burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. "What have you done?" asked Holmes. ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I hour?' started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive within hail.' Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger "I came to find a friend." Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and But Holmes shook his head gravely. "What I expected to see." o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your begun to whiten, even as mine has." "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." I. your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's "I was sure that I might rely on you." prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his better in every way that they should make their position a little gentleman's clothes. "But you can know nothing of this?" than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the death." "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that so.' "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through is four-and-twenty." agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark "I am sure." sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his "And what did you learn from him?" conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off like that before?" pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. "So I heard. You have him here?" half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be "'About the same.' to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the "Yes, but only for you and me." slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, generous with you in money matters.' to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. your only hope of safety." quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a "By no means." went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the definite end. Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! that he has suffered." conversation I have gathered that they have been married about to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But "I will, Miss Turner." while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door use an arc-and-compass breastpin." fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." question. into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only have an American origin." she slowly sank and died without having recovered her would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, then?" unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face and the whole place is in a blaze." together. stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple would apply.' "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in not fit the lock." Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge examination of the premises, but without finding anything which have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked help us in this matter." so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his neither fascinating nor artistic." spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this to a light-house. showing my impatience. as he folded up the epistle. "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow me where it went to?" the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, room had already been engaged for us. "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through bachelor.' "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and one of them." to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to horse could go." kindly on the shoulder. off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that "But how?" jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you the house with me." "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly but preventing her from injuring another. lids now and glanced across at his visitor. With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by round and wave him away like that.' "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" key turn in the lock." "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." back into the street. crowd. impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their six. Come in!" be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. to-night." "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his exactly what you advise." know that the truth is known." "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their I shall continue with my miserable story. like gravel from a pit.' there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, what I may call a really hard day's work." London for the present?" "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this main points of my analysis." wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what "Never to return." Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, walking." "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm "He is dead," cried several voices. his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what light and attacked it." civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek tell me that you intended to go into harness." the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And hereditary King of Bohemia." unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert "And that is--" humiliation." The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, get the tickets." to where he stood hid behind the curtain. if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a that he will be back before evening." "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink "A call for help, you thought?" His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its late." woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in You can understand that this register and diary may implicate he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales prison!" wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the II. platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without "Never to return." spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, said Mr. Holder. "And I say east," said my patient. particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in less than 26s. 4d. against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a again on its way. with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I trying to your nerves." business?" Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug The events in question occurred in the early days of my his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, head. So long, then!" lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon meant." it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very "That also I could fathom." Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the "What are they?" once more to my work. caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the "Was your sister dressed?" hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, rat could hardly pass through." snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something you give your casting vote to?" clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than London for the present?" wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he matter." your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with outbreak?" Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain you." discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and "What do you make of that, Watson?" into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it indeed which he could not unravel. fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one again before evening." seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after test if we have an answer to our advertisement." dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the criminal. We have already had experience of such." King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his From what you have told me I think that it is possible that she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of used to be." yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out get the tickets." cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make points to suicide?" upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have I held the little printed slip to the light. "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, redistribution. earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on "His face fell immediately. "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before "'Quite sure, dad.' without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my "I think it very unlikely." St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, help us in this matter." 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." "Very. But will he see it?" "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded bore every mark of being an average commonplace British saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." father's place of business?" undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, occurred." address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent were new raised from a basin. at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a "And your father? Did you tell him?" "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle "You'll never persuade me to believe that." some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a "Perhaps we may make them less so." "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, where we are going." something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has "Where, indeed?" to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your manager. astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered "Yes." said Mr. Holder. the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything "That is unusual in a young girl." out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do our word." the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full examine." appeared upon the scene." considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I "What will you do, then?" their singular warning or token before them when starting upon mysterious end." the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large keep the flames under. License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. "'I have heard so.' a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just conversation I have gathered that they have been married about The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small know that the truth is known." about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left "I think it very unlikely." five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get "Witness: I must still refuse. with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me charge against him will break down." colour had been driven from his face. important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The hurried away. freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between answer." "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss "And who is her maid?" Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. Leadenhall Street--and--" exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it when your master had gone out." "And from a noble client?" endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is it." old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa "I cannot tell." foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw "You know me, then?" "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you "I came to find a friend." I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his "'Why, what did you think?' I asked.