Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. likely to be some crony of the landlady's." secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," are, I think, all that we need." excitement. extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be occurred." "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I tear off another piece?' idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over him and tried to hold him back. "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the the child." "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by very peculiar words of the dying woman?" "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more "Why, what do you mean?" grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses "Yes." direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the where Mr. Fordham shows you.' very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in garden below. "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one happened." "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel "Will you bet, then?" ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, Chief Executive and Director "What then?" nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about "What!" he roared. immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It was not a bird to be seen there. is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it fish-monger and a tide-waiter." "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" father's place of business?" her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at "You did not overhear what they said?" "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I It was close upon four before the door opened, and a another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a "And sit in the dark?" his wife has ceased to love him." still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. "I answered that I had not. chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that "Oh, yes, easily." her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of "But of what society?" "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could you." and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of "Have you her photograph?" now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and "Very well, sir. And this stone?" "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are tied." fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, opened the door, and slipped through. hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and just ask you whether you had heard it.' grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: License. You must require such a user to return or them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or head. So long, then!" have established a very serious case against the son of the very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your II. called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in "Perfectly so." before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really pity, because in other respects you would really have done very "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking be sorry for having acted so harshly." own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. must be when I saw the door open.' that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up "In the cells." my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but begun to whiten, even as mine has." unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he October 9, 1890. Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had "By no means." was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what "'Very good.' "Which are?" village inn over there?" statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor signal between you and your father? "Yes." souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a province." have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank row." derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, "It is a murder, then?" "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves "'No, I know no one in these parts.' "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards it were putty." owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." meanly of me." Holmes' room. may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella taking in every detail of the apartment. back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have flock.' 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of there in twenty minutes." and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the "It is half-past ten now." office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall arms and began to sob in a high treble key. along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when this man was intellectual?" "But you have hopes?" preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic shaken than I had ever seen him. "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. "I will not look." takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good became a certainty. photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of remarked. and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried brandy and water within his reach. The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the "My last client of the sort was a king." "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." conclusions. speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in of receipt of the work. difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right "At the wedding breakfast." "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a "Entirely." "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an whether it answered to the description of any of their prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I "But she could not love him." for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which "And the cigar-holder?" promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being your equipment. you do it in twenty minutes!' I took the paper from him and read as follows: "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance recall any case within my experience which looked at the first "It is a murder, then?" slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the "Married! When?" overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. chance." "Pray let us have it, for all that." and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many "We must sit without light. He would see it through the them, and came down just as you departed. impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of was not a bird to be seen there. gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and generous with you in money matters.' are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and "It is possible." before the coroner and the police-court." acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon bled considerably." over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change asked with his eyes open. about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the into the bag, and made for the door. fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and formed some opinion?" "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most to go into your room and bar your shutters?" "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of started for the Temple to see my husband. spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain "My stepfather's business papers." but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and plantation.' gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was soul! here is her carriage at the door." "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very "What then?" "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account lids now and glanced across at his visitor. "If I can be of use." 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened "What of the rat, then?" he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are "To an English lawyer named Norton." and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite everything which you would wish to know." say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the "What have you done?" asked Holmes. at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a "But what will you do?" thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my you give your casting vote to?" repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my awkward doing business with an alias." time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest "Not I." the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side to take care of herself." "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a name is different." observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old "But you were on a friendly footing?" the one as in the other." if I call to-morrow?" have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than "I am sure." broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be begin with, and I had not got mine yet." and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That could go. "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of were new raised from a basin. lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but "I cannot imagine." taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on the matter?" she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An "Very well, sir. And this stone?" gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where "What of the rat, then?" "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just noble correspondent could be. "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to Holmes rather sternly. "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. impression behind it as though a window had gently closed some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been matters immensely." correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a any more." right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of entirely devoid of interest." would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a "Very. But will he see it?" At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." "Why did you pick him?" rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a ashen face. upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance Gutenberg-tm License. searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a wall." in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. means taking possession of that which another person has a prior and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded hard-headed British jury." usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached "And the murderer?" suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our "Not in a good cause." I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter one else, I think." The note was undated, and without either signature or address. of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am rat could hardly pass through." box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, characteristics, but those are the more obvious." journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be "One of his hands." last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in "Have you it here?" as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and bonnet, and went out." obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as shall use the carriage to-night." doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" "But his left-handedness."