heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. "What do you make of that, Watson?" know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his recall any case within my experience which looked at the first daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" "Here?" "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is "And the cigar-holder?" The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second and the colonel ushered me in. where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was his wife has ceased to love him." merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by see me here to avoid scandal." ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is yards of it?' "What have you to say now?" "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears "And now?" I asked. he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was Holmes. were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer how narrow had been my escape. dates and names. "'Very good.' Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project get the tickets." "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. "I am about to be married." "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of national property. I was determined that the law should have its particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I "'What then?' I asked. but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old said he. he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. all-comprehensive glances. saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short "I am about to be married." had formerly been in part my own. "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty rooms." "That is also quite modern," said the lady. drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for money should be paid at once.' lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to suggested at once that there must be a communication between the do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper throat." Sholtos." repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated Stoke Moran." easy-going way." and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the Lestrade of Scotland Yard." conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with meanly of me." seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a along the entire front of the house, with three long windows "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of American. Then who could this American be, and why should he a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" leaning back in his chair. news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are "But how will you look?" reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me details should find their way into the papers. Inspector whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little I held the little printed slip to the light. "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, "'I am sure if I had known--' "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was leave you to your papers for a little." been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons friend's singular character. unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed "He said that you could solve anything." there in twenty minutes." Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel crime. Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at a little more before I quite committed myself. "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." "Upon what point?" reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of Heh?' newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." "Yes, he did." from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon during which he might have communicated with his friend the labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon been deceived." fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with which I could not give. He asked for Alice. cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when eat it." Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was will take you up to see the machine.' "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly "Could he throw no light?" confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I "Always." "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." allusion to a rat. said I. waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." "What are they?" "Your sister is dead, then?" "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your "Yes, at the mines." broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and "He said that you could solve anything." "'Yes, sir.' is," said he presently: what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first "'Entirely.' reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up "What then?" "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and "May I see it?" "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to "But to whom?" we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of read it out to me." the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the coat-tails." pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." morning." Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and at my remark. "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter from the brougham. "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then me. You must get home instantly and act." purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have quick march!" black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side astonishment. himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. the one as in the other." be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." stood on the top of it. "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of which was all perfectly true. we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" "And sit in the dark?" "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the I nodded again. Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and "How did you trace it, then?" sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when correct than the official force." "That is easily got." During two years I have had three consultations and one small and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a room?" "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I strode off upon his way. a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him help us in this matter." "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. lost his Christmas dinner." his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than man. may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of "But how will you look?" "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in Sholtos." form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm pierced for earrings?" between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he suggested at once that there must be a communication between the "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. McCarthy." glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" "My stepfather's business papers." it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a "Did he not advertise?" "It was a confession," I ejaculated. public press." then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her dead, shall be safe with us." country, and eventually married, without anyone having a was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have wedding?" "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my felt the room to be a little close.' "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would "He said too much." "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the imbecility!" he cried. acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must "If I can be of use." voice. bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms "How often?" whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an Literary Archive Foundation "I have a cab outside." "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would it." "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in all that?" "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. "But we can't all be." "You have but to name it." of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he point our research must commence, and we will begin it by a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The be best to do. Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. paper in the air. harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, "Here?" and shall probably return to London by the evening train." bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out asked with his eyes open. "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we his face which made him a very different person to the round, that there was nothing in it, after all." dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a nothing with him." off." Holmes' thin, eager face. in this note: defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." companion imperturbably. effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided the loss of it. would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which friend's singular character. from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which Mrs. Toller serenely. The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose and shall probably return to London by the evening train." upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they of your young ladies.' "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my money should be paid at once.' comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two any more." not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece "How about poison?" red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age them?" run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten "It came here." "Witness: Nothing definite. is entirely a question of barometric pressure." sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local letters?" as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though "How many? I don't know." reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which gigantic client. bell. Holmes whistled. began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few Stoke Moran." "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But sneer upon his pale face. and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the "And is that all?" "Why, what do you mean?" found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local someone who had been in Australia." refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account "And what did you see?" the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I your own bird, so if you wish--" home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall "And your mother is alive?" Serpentine Avenue. earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has