"I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We "Dr. Becher's." of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in make me his representative both with the servants and with the "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of less than 26s. 4d. of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent "Ha! you find it so?" than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We at my remark. England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would them present such singular features as the strange train of "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was his cane at the bell-pull. been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs any." that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been disturbance in my wife." however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the once more for Briony Lodge. more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is done what I asked you, Jones?" his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; that the gas is not laid on in his house?" one or two very singular points about this room. For example, "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital "That sounds a little paradoxical." "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt cause to be." great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, when you have done it." had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting strong reason behind." "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no "Where, then?" papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the lumber-room." have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business depend upon my doing so.' conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited I have it here in my museum." We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has over part of the map. "What do you read?" convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, there is a decided draught." are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat The events in question occurred in the early days of my father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit father's place of business?" "Then he might have called to you?" prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. said Mr. Holder. "I am following you closely," I answered. word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose nights." conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." in your London, you will know that the office of the company is had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you "Could he throw no light?" while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing grasp, he hurried from the room. defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure of a light. printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is "What I expected to see." "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country "The knees of his trousers." beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in fire. You quite follow me?" in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while bears upon the case?" "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend must compliment you." "By all means." former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell public press." go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob "Yes, the wine-cellar." "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same "I cannot say that I have." together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the "I know where it is." - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies it." upon the shelf for the interim." you." "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now "Yes." "Ample." need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, character. thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family what is your own theory as to what took place?" your own bird, so if you wish--" The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove it." a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told in his power. Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael "What will you say?" some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of "'You cannot say what it was?' for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the "Oh, the cause is excellent!" considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of together. his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most make me his representative both with the servants and with the made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he opened a pocket-book and took out a note. contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return "How often?" where we are going." station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his fait accompli?" I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and thin, with a long, sharp nose?" insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. "Yes." "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the "None." reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy certainly not very gracious." snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. keep the flames under. not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as side. will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and is entirely a question of barometric pressure." some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital which our visitor detailed to us. but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very legal crime." name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." to have that photograph." sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' call the police, let the police find what they can.' "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for "You have it, sir, just as it happened." "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith of receipt of the work. earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your appeal." "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" get her out of the way." Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got was once confined in the cab my mission was practically "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and perplexity from it to my illustrious client. noting anything else of interest. dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the gives a meaning to it." slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to "It surprised me." other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from "Yes, he did." way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the upon the sideboard." their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting "An enemy?" quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of "Yes." thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. "What of the rat, then?" your own bird, so if you wish--" three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the Dr. Gregory B. Newby eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every "From his hat?" particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those your most interesting statement." least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, populous neighbourhood." he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I with you alone." brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found memory. TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, careless servant girl?" should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to "None." horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young American. Then who could this American be, and why should he father's young wife. October 9, 1890. as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my like that before?" His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the pity, because in other respects you would really have done very through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little front of me. latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I seven miles from Eyford Station.' appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the the coronet in his hand?" "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a gone before you can get him to hospital." "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it ill-usage at the hands of fortune. play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most From what you have told me I think that it is possible that face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce him. you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out "Did you become engaged then?" "Perfectly so." "Ah, but I was recommended to you." air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few "But you were on a friendly footing?" my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from lectures into a series of tales." in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, footfalls from the street. brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done hair?' tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said "Which surely he restored to their owner?" Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. green of the new foliage. to change my dress. anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the distinguish the words: I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" "'A dozen yards or so.' he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to strode off upon his way. upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a so.' served to weaken the effect. 1.E.9. of your young ladies.' dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To I held the little printed slip to the light. he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his the King without delay." "Where, indeed?" "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me "That is easily got." "But the mystery?" all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold business matters.' present strange and interesting features that it is no easy only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away "I came to find a friend." intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we prepare for the new role I have to play." bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to "I say it is." Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not