saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At his grey eyes. the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat populous neighbourhood." INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in thin legs towards the fire. "Yes." The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great "No good news?" problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood in him." before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich to where he stood hid behind the curtain. chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into call it cruel." to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there Holmes' face clouded over. India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he "How often?" and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. note?" "But it has twice been burgled." fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of "In answer to an advertisement." circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the "How did that help you?" Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to seen the man in the road." in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The in the port of London." "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as to his chemical studies. future lives." steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a "'As governess?' "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." comes from the middle window." occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond "I am following you closely," I answered. twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, particular state visit http://pglaf.org unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his "I cannot tell." conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the The summons was a brief and urgent one. something of him before." aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I daring than any effort of the imagination." cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie "What of the rat, then?" out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the heavily into it. research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than asked with his eyes open. greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a himself. machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us James Windibank. Voilà tout!" your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has of campaign. at home. someone who had been in Australia." which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad him!" "How many? I don't know." electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is "You saw the ventilator, too?" agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you little adventures." decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the you understand?" why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back "Not yet." are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry his knees, staring into the fire. probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign are windows in it, of course?" pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by salesman. excitement. happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich page at http://pglaf.org way in." and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's derbies." hand, madam?" reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the "How often?" "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, strange features which were associated with the two crimes which "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried "I was certainly surprised to find you there." profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the front of me. time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own "You were travelling in the States?" Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the colour had been driven from his face. loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy been." suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have weighed down with some great anxiety. certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I a suggestive one." reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too himself to hunt down. said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that "Then what has happened to him?" "So it appears." and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he photograph?" voice, changing her seat as requested. "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with was not a bird to be seen there. her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual is four-and-twenty." "Ten will be early enough." gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been I am not easy in my mind about them." Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' are, I think, all that we need." Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet to-night." time." upon the white wrist. "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense your billet.' information in his hands the value of which he did not himself naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something visitors." see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you "'You doubt its value?' he asked. envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real suspect him." contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two simple cases which are so extremely difficult." "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire "Yes, that is the Crown." "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." the roots. first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no as noiselessly as she had come. Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed her also." Lestrade of Scotland Yard." us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was down. a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated which should have the effect of calling the attention of the "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in questioning and rather startled gaze. http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he my secret was safe in his possession. populous neighbourhood." promised to bring home. has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was jewels which you have stolen?' "Upon what point?" window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then "I warn you that they are very incomplete." common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I there were one or two details which were new to me. But the realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the particular state visit http://pglaf.org and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled "It is his hat." address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on and looked back. and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices amused." determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two not as remarkable as your advertisement." daring than any effort of the imagination." window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her the Red-headed League." Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a "'What do you call purely nominal?' upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. "The best possible." correct than the official force." lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home "Yes." it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend in his power. could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding brain must have something in it." "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, to go into your room and bar your shutters?" "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the The events in question occurred in the early days of my Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the "A confidential servant?" know all about it," he snarled. upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from of the vacancies.' "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless had died away into the silence from which it rose. I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his meant it for the best. insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one that before taking the final step I should like to submit the "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square weighed down with some great anxiety. the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save pound a week." "But your client--" England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," status with the IRS. he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and the Red-headed League." "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my The summons was a brief and urgent one. whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been floor. "'And what are they worth?' I asked. "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in "ARAT," I read. passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried "Will you go?" scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty "Nothing?" all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he it? Did I buy the geese off you?" the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a of the one which your family is now devouring." outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. skylight. and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a father's young wife. throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to meanly of me." Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in could not account in any way for the presence of the missing "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase brandy and water within his reach. A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative laugh and put his lips to my ear. "Not particularly." came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to "In what way?" asked Holmes. reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty Stoke Moran." vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this "On Monday." fluttered off among the others. I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged "You have it, sir, just as it happened." upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, the best of training." that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb maid will bring up your coffee." I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a ways including including checks, online payments and credit card age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry me. You must get home instantly and act." "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled been with you?" the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the "'Ten to two.' 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' criminal. We have already had experience of such." It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is ways including including checks, online payments and credit card chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as 11:15.' lost nothing by them." "Was your sister dressed?" fatally injured? was not a bird to be seen there. away into the river." "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?"