"Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the "No more words. Get out!" know all about it," he snarled. in darkness. "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece at home. "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have get her out of the way." to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." how narrow had been my escape. "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and "He said that you could solve anything." would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could on re-entering her father's house?" your billet.' "Dark enough and sinister enough." "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some and wait." sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now "And I to find an enemy." "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting "I will, Miss Turner." confronted him. the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached approach us with offers to donate. Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. "To ruin me." or in danger--" Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is retorted upon me, and I on you." "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the "Ah, but I was recommended to you." "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found "Will you bet, then?" of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, was feeling which was the fattest.' the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day lamp. "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his problems help me to do so." pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up "How many? I don't know." some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from "Oh, yes, easily." "Dr. Becher's." began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the I shall communicate with you." "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to you found me to-night--and running through the front room she thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended delirious. and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my "And why?" inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his congenial hunt. once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our advice." were wasted." abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine instituted." came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of business." "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. your most interesting statement." the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which "Certainly, madam." drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, been with you?" letters?" 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. least a fellow-countryman. once more. every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the wanted for ourselves." companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the late." that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed gigantic client. a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his "By no means." "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical carriage. It was a chestnut." "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great of Mr. Rucastle's." "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some note?" baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not "To the police?" had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to "Absolutely none." chill to my heart. his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His conduct the inquiry." sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business entirely devoid of interest." purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have "You forget that I know nothing about it." "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity have had none more fantastic than this." only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary clanging. "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings me. against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast better grown goose." "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business written. newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, chance." Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had "Quite so." than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" "Very murderous indeed." hands. enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly too. lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. "It is very clear." "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I locked." awaited us upon the table. a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him "Why did you beat the pavement?" "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to Gutenberg-tm License. with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he was keenly on my guard against him. "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to experiences." went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to Pool. protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how later, upon the night of May 2nd." notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project when you have done it." "Ha! you find it so?" lost nothing by them." "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms business." horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman "May I see it?" table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands too. became a certainty. unkempt, staring out at me. quite distinctive." wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom prisoner's face. made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." not within a twentieth part of the market price." The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you been able to understand it, in a very few words. before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was read it out to me." to affect your life." refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the conceal it?" bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that "I would give my fortune to have them back." muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel "Yes, there are nearly always some there." against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the James Windibank. Voilà tout!" It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and not use it unless it is absolutely needed." which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an think that any burglar could have done. to-night's adventure." man. rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. bird I ate is country bred." will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." away in different directions, and I went off to make my own "I will not look." the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view fuss that is made over them." among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond learned something! Where are the gems?" "Of what?" and laid it on the table. appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of "'Ten to two.' Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and some place of shelter and let the county police know what has commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy place, I think that there is good ground to think that the blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of derbies." "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and seven miles from Eyford Station.' Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent "How do you know, then?" call the police, let the police find what they can.' "There is the writing." me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those posted to-day." superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking money should be paid at once.' magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I "Always." "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that "Do you know him?" "No good news?" 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived "Absolutely none." putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the colonel looking down at me. out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, something of him before." him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little interests were the same as his." correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce "Nearly eleven." "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more "I should wish to." Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under the loss of it. band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out there!' man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, relief. "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you soul! here is her carriage at the door." to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's own family. dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." of the efforts of the United States government and of the better turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It off." recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a to some other building. white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at that threaten you." to some other building. Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and "Did he not advertise?" guilty one." and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. begun to whiten, even as mine has." that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average will take you up to see the machine.' it. 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the "It is very clear." whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the lips." passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the back to my heart. "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes back into the street. seem to you to be relevant or not." tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." "But how?" "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar obstinate." with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, room?" "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as "My photograph." jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor power." might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, paper in the air. "What do you make of that, Watson?" she used." man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will "And you can do nothing until then?" should be taken.' you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. security.' knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled easy-going way." companion. Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." to arrive at through this?" "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little made him keep the appointment." lamp in his hand. It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even tear off another piece?' "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." directly by questioning you." of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and national property. I was determined that the law should have its as the one I chose?' "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing "Tired-looking or fresh?" a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious tension within him. old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can