I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should had died away into the silence from which it rose. but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not chair. meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless returned to France?" cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to "Game for a morning drive?" the little opening for the ventilator is." sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall before, for it was considerably after midnight. reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and "And you thought he was pulled back?" earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." "Here?" the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. said I. conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the "Yes, that is the Crown." means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" himself in a perplexing position. preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what "A greater distance to travel." bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me "Then the page we have seen--" from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers to Leatherhead. which should have the effect of calling the attention of the I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, ordinary clothes on?" shadow pass over his face as I spoke. day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk about here speaks of his kindness to him." Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from arrangements." "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could ago." beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a trying to your nerves." down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" posted to-day." and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we furiously. "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was troubles have been weighing upon his mind. experiences." standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then only touch the interest." chemical work which was so dear to him. and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the begun to whiten, even as mine has." eat it." suggested at once that there must be a communication between the after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to three of the beryls in it, was missing. you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations lectures into a series of tales." chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and "Yes." suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." little trying to do so much typewriting?" straighten it?" which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that "I never have." photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came sit on the left-hand side of the driver." "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" business at Coburg Square is serious." goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." the window, rose as we entered. was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an business came to an end." Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the frequently gained my first real insight into the character of "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias "Here?" had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time that you saw all that I did." would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was already been minutely examined." sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with annoyance, but no jest. instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. "Was there a secret marriage?" has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging "Who by?" "It is his hat." probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is visitors." She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you The telegram which we eventually received came late one night McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a people in all walks of life. "And did you observe any change in her then?" "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud "What, then, did Peterson do?" balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your "Very much so." and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a "By train from Waterloo." which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." "Then he might have called to you?" cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally three of the beryls in it, was missing. "Entirely." Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great "The Coroner: What do you mean? he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated drawing your inferences." time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" "In what way?" asked Holmes. Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be Literary Archive Foundation "This concluded the examination of the witness." envelope. "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the "Why, what do you mean?" lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray fish-monger and a tide-waiter." "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had sufficient punishment." fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she there were so many in the whole country as were brought together very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." anything to a woman, for she would have her way." would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever the little opening for the ventilator is." mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. where she found matters as described by the last witness. furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. "What shall I do?" of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in envelope. outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the generous with you in money matters.' willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance in this way: "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had legal crime." this unhappy family?" to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, business at Coburg Square is serious." "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to forebodings. "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through "And what did you see?" next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, "'About the same.' before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety have accepted such a situation. "What is it?" body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when business?" going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had "'Is purely nominal.' married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at "I shall be delighted." the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would wedding?" served to weaken the effect. Street. called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank never came back." "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they "'How far from the body?' given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his look upon these things in a different way." silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for look upon these things in a different way." cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have "Certainly." "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself bled considerably." observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime allusion to a rat. flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and "We were both in the photograph." all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind his cane at the bell-pull. that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in "It was an hour's good drive." sooner or later she must fall a victim. to change my dress. "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as furiously. "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried "'You cannot say what it was?' "I saw her in conversation with her maid." roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, enter into my head. years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of "You have compromised yourself seriously." Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like memory. by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his "Your presence might be invaluable." And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" the driver. delighted to hear it," he said. "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It "By all means." muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My call you and give you the chance." "By no means." expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his enter Dr. Roylott's room." "Come in!" said he. "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a "I should be immensely obliged to you." "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly "Yes." With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her suspect him." and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set "What do you mean?" upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." it." Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the maid will bring up your coffee." with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in "'Yes.' are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same must be when I saw the door open.' "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in awaited us upon the table. gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed http://www.gutenberg.net 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding hereditary King of Bohemia." might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are "Dirty?" once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" "Do you go out much in society?" into her hand at the door and which lured her within their bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed with the outside air!" low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the