client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this coroner's jury." fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. "Precisely." We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs you?" astonishment. "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of said he, "my real name is James Ryder." "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in criminal. We have already had experience of such." any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in their singular warning or token before them when starting upon Holmes rather sternly. "That sounds a little paradoxical." "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped "'And the work?' "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his details should find their way into the papers. Inspector down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves him." "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not IS "What can you not understand?" profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias them present such singular features as the strange train of shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either face and glided from the room. scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and without a word or a look. week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as "'Very good.' my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away "Very much so." carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the again, where I was soon asleep. "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. mysterious end." in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael is acting for the best. are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them direction." lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not yet." "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece along the entire front of the house, with three long windows baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a your only hope of safety." abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. ways of our fellow-men." Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and "There are none." back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke "'Yes.' lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, during the last few years, and there are many noble families to time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her maid will bring up your coffee." inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and "It is half-past ten now." colonel looking down at me. impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little "No sign of it?" housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a "Absolutely?" bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over in my life." the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." "And it is--" and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking formed some opinion?" said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my II. in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was Lestrade of Scotland Yard." before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up "'What do you call purely nominal?' "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact "Texas, I think." "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The "Which are?" http://gutenberg.net/license). 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very "The doctor?" harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over felt?" finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain 1.F. "No sign of it?" astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing Leave Paddington by the 11:15." upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped Project Gutenberg-tm works. other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, "I will, Miss Turner." neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it "My dear Holmes!" such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something God! What an exposure! What can I do?" have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the "Only as much as we can deduce." our word." his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us to-night." postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined "One horse?" interjected Holmes. dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and "Well." Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted here." "Thank you. And your address?" about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp October 9, 1890. be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as possible that we could bring him back to her? his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that "'Which dealer's?' "I fear not." "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. coroner's jury." weighed down with some great anxiety. that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, bonnet, and went out." heavily into it. that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. could go. stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" the ceiling. was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of down. as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the "I have solved it." that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the "I see no marks." "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what The telegram which we eventually received came late one night lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party not within a twentieth part of the market price." "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I "Then you may entirely rely on me." Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. "Well?" During two years I have had three consultations and one small gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such plantation.' "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in infinite languor in his face. in your London, you will know that the office of the company is above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to allusion to a rat. the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of your most interesting statement." keep the flames under. burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my "Why serious?" then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never must be when I saw the door open.' been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in searched, without anything being found which could incriminate firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no garden below. Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs have an American origin." one of the states of the Union." he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is there were so many in the whole country as were brought together lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for bare slabs of marble. for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had place, I think that there is good ground to think that the to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, beg that you will break it off." had died away into the silence from which it rose. recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a "You saw the ventilator, too?" "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, occurred." "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the "It is half-past ten now." thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, Eyford." steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella our word." said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us gone. had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." breakfast." "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said "One horse?" interjected Holmes. post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain digesting their breakfasts at home." in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have "Yes, at the mines." wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in "Perhaps we may make them less so." "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have walking." one's self under obligations.' yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" the King without delay." "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" new acquaintance to Baker Street. main points of my analysis." giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. will take you up to see the machine.' "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, Count Von Kramm." upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. held up the lantern and gazed about him. the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a made him keep the appointment." and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." "I cannot tell." England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a definite end. how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. to a light-house. or other trace. But how on earth--" "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a strong reason behind." that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in fashion which was peculiar to him. "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I very morning of my second wedding." walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my "No sign of it?" very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these subject to the trademark license, especially commercial overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was "And how did he make his money?" depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful is worth.' know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the she slowly sank and died without having recovered her "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you "My Mary? Impossible!" one of them." reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I "Why? What do you mean?" "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't most interesting one." through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all "You are all wrong." post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, again before evening." But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from "In heaven's name, what for?" wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the "Quite so." window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I "An enemy?" of Mr. Rucastle's." "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers not come at once?" he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my strength in the others." didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything "'Yes, sir.' "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found "'I shall certainly be there.' coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her vault. case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last himself to hunt down. "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, vanished into the darkness. are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran public press." The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised room.