reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, see me here to avoid scandal." "I should wish to." you in yours." continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal that he will be back before evening." with her." and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." "No?" second." not interfere, come what may. You understand?" "'No, I know no one in these parts.' "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his "We must have a cab." "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that indeed which he could not unravel. "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had drawing your inferences." downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly sentimental considerations in the background which would induce "No. What a strange idea!" yards of it?' which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you place, I think that there is good ground to think that the been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the not come at once?" which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it over part of the map. "What do you read?" it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment showing my impatience. "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning when you have done it." previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to chance." "What do you make of that, Watson?" aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now "But how?" breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or photograph a cabinet?" "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a was a perfect sample of the class. light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': telegram would bring me down to your help." wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last "And your mother is alive?" first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged man. I know him from the photograph." father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass families. Now for the facts. "I have come for advice." simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You views." "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed get the tickets." knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I to-night's adventure." morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a "'What, the red-headed man?' dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems quite distinctive." from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my other, as fresh and trim as possible. 1.E.9. Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, "Yes, sir." "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be less than 26s. 4d. I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" experiences." all that?" "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, the Friday. Was it to be in church?" down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come companion. among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual or in danger--" with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a gbnewby@pglaf.org the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as business came to an end." Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not be.' as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. with you alone." in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You young Openshaw's." "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the "Then, as to money?" Heh?' fact, we may call it conclusive." through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the writer." Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and "But it has twice been burgled." "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign the iron safe, which he closed upon it. Cross for the Continent." think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your now. It seems that there had been some informality about their The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little there is a decided draught." room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his DISSOLVED. "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" fattened it expressly for you.' all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, "It was an hour's good drive." "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, "Was she in good spirits?" A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase "My photograph." "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that hardly wander." that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the are, and they are waiting for us." the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You "Yes." Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite most interesting one." "'In my own bureau.' Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets "I saw her in conversation with her maid." sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the "My last client of the sort was a king." uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all Watson," he said cordially. "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was father's young wife. For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. the tragedy. my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while front of me. "You saw the ventilator, too?" so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one written. fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't "That is also quite modern," said the lady. waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend The police have openly confessed that they can at present make and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which "So it appears." "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he his huge brown hands. "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that "I cannot as yet see any connection." such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If "I am armed." I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." out of this horrible affair." was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many thin, with a long, sharp nose?" "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it galvanised. you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so forehead. "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. comes from the middle window." afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and chance." of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" in a friendly supper." "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these have been better. It is all right." upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional everything which you would wish to know." he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. "I am sure." idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have "I know where it is." through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. like that before?" "Frequently." "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my manager. the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have about. a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback "Did you observe the colour?" to go into your room and bar your shutters?" "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." "'I have heard so.' which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to "From his hat?" this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is "How did you trace it, then?" homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at very old mansion. to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the your room." about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can strength." old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the miles off. it." successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came in this note: you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with "Breckinridge is his name." will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive there is a decided draught." office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor as he folded up the epistle. "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations II. ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting mysterious end." secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign little adventures." is entirely a question of barometric pressure." you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly fled together." the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" hand, madam?" I leave." "'How far from the body?' I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this "I have solved it." suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. "But what will you do?" there." absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, one else, I think." "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since crime. part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I despair." which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a side. the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already "Your presence might be invaluable." Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the "You know me, then?" "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two shoulder. happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove "I know where it is." "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. "Do you know him?" wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was happened." young Openshaw's." effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little strength in the others." But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those your sleep?' "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, bell. Holmes whistled. we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. before the coroner and the police-court." vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that head. So long, then!" quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was "That is possible." "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On "Yes, but only for you and me."