disturbance in my wife." "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right The events in question occurred in the early days of my why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him up this clue while it is still hot." registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting morning." nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated that I can to serve you." overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four "I am armed." idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the "To an end?" three fields round his house, and there he would take his bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed affection." "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed the running down." edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. deduce something from that?" "I have a cab outside." age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too I. "Where did you address your letters, then?" the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." III. charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you to you." Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. humiliation." "Not him." this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any was already answered. after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith to talk it over. bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and "No." prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for "None. Neville wrote those words." approach us with offers to donate. he died? thought that she would have been so carried away." everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. walking." however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can "No, I am descending." direction." stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no "Did you become engaged then?" of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp "Precisely so. But how--" flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a means taking possession of that which another person has a prior something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of mystery." on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, "I have come for advice." whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide kindly on the shoulder. figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how You want to know what became of those geese?" the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very had formerly been in part my own. down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all important." "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly undoubtedly my uncle's." behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after was already answered. permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no "Yes, at the mines." for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an be best to do. uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing "To the police?" that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. ran thus: should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, my room." search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean least a fellow-countryman. wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and of Fenchurch Street." his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one "I cannot imagine." owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, business." woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part "But not more so than I to find you." "My dear Holmes!" away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right you, my dear young lady?' emerged. directors, with the result that you have seen." business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to "I have a cab outside." firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The "'Yes.' I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his to-morrow." rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she depend upon my doing so.' of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one begun to whiten, even as mine has." Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" mystery!" "My opinion is in no way altered." true." The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and brain must have something in it." to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. Heh?' believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging "Yes, certainly." "Oh, the cause is excellent!" Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have "This photograph!" ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport dates and names. interests were the same as his." money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and rooms." labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those amused." nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may any little problem which you may submit to me." In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, go from here to the Strand." morning." asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, on re-entering her father's house?" considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point stalked out of the room. grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to to where he stood hid behind the curtain. threw himself down with his face to the pillow. to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a "Whose house is it?" spare." "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in system of imprisonment?" "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were in the dead of the night?' Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a "Yes, only one." dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked the station." shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few this as likely?" "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no "Her father is very rich?" seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I following enigmatical notices: work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend "That is possible." before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, memory. its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his "Witness: Nothing definite. union?" "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from "What can you not understand?" say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father prisoner's face. Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our cost them two and thirty pounds." sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter "You think so, too?" has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue a few minutes he said that it would be all right. common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that was used.' firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low read it out to me." o'clock is it?" "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in "Then what has happened to him?" situation." fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black province." touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in "Pray let us have it, for all that." eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the three fields round his house, and there he would take his "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions business in the City. She little knew what. behind me. your only hope of safety." which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my enter Dr. Roylott's room." Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in "Never to return." "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's and shall probably return to London by the evening train." over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it fishes. Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. his face. box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the "Witness: Nothing definite. ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until "'Stolen!' he cried. to have that photograph." someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking "I have come for advice." mysterious business." They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would go--none." himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You "And help." doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. lectures into a series of tales." with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he "Yes, at the mines." prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is opened a pocket-book and took out a note. "I think that I had better go, Holmes." hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I father's place of business?" do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently derbies." To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when not fit the lock." Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of His smile broadened. shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced "Then how many are there?" "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, "Yes, sir." "I am to be neutral?" be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was For additional contact information: "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that "In San Francisco, a year ago." "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a "My private note-paper." pity, because in other respects you would really have done very chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst name is different." manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, "So I am. Very much so." sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him back to my heart. customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, was shining brightly. were new raised from a basin. system of imprisonment?" served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." bare slabs of marble. once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy place no limit on the sum I may draw." "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter "They are typewritten," I remarked. obstinate." "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a the armchair which I pushed forward for him. stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, you want, then?' "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I "The doctor?" head. So long, then!" his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the "A client, then?" "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must