closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I Surrey." "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism business." eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he his huge brown hands. "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, upon the sideboard." "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting were new raised from a basin. "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the that he will be back before evening." "I shall most certainly do so." such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was a good hundred miles off by now." "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I their singular warning or token before them when starting upon "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival "You know me, then?" "In what way?" asked Holmes. face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without questionable one." while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, "I think that it is very probable." row." money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you "Will you go?" one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon meanly of me." "By all means." address. one else, I think." him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, "No?" of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm had picked up in the wood. dear old homesteads?" sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, "None." the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used threw himself down with his face to the pillow. gone before you can get him to hospital." excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be "Not him." "I am still in the dark." bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom "You have but to name it." "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this several quiet little villages up there." tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home "That is unusual in a young girl." know all about it," he snarled. statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing results." "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to "We must sit without light. He would see it through the put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom "But how will you look?" the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a room had already been engaged for us. yards of it?' registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I dead, shall be safe with us." "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and round and wave him away like that.' and inquire as to the address." over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely for its centre. his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out and all of them with the keenest interest. all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in possible that we could bring him back to her? existence." not within a twentieth part of the market price." "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just crackling voice. wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when "I know where it is." One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must Edgeware Road. said I. "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird John Swain, of St. Augustine. year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing "But how did you gain them?" cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their husband's writing, madam." of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of visitors." "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all experiences." nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made this poor creature." lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and read over the extraordinary announcement. the salesman. want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; "My last client of the sort was a king." effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon James Windibank. Voilà tout!" Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so golden eyeglasses. it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of these bleak autumnal evenings." locked. circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared it." conceal it?" from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I the nursery. him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with as he folded up the epistle. young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her "When did she vanish, then?" "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a "I guessed as much." his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There "It must be recovered." against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend that threaten you." shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had cigars in their mouths. seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up but preventing her from injuring another. it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and "And did you observe any change in her then?" "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little "What of the rat, then?" "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was "It was a confession," I ejaculated. through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. place of silver." central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. the roots. his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They certainly do as you advise." them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." "Nor running a chance of arrest?" usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's main points of my analysis." all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there that you saw all that I did." trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." His smile broadened. was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at is entirely a question of barometric pressure." quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. from the brougham. were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten Does that suggest anything?" glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, noise which awoke you from your sleep?" abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly key of the affair now." the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the morning." "He is still with you, I presume?" chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an through." slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I formed some opinion?" papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, the bottom.' ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" "Stolen, then." papers on the sundial.'" feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle careless servant girl?" named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg distinguish the words: "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a the stable lane now." "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The "How are you getting on?" called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of them present such singular features as the strange train of PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I "By all means." "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will must compliment you." was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may kind enough to tell me what I should do." Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most correct than the official force." managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent ago." hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my "Was she in good spirits?" it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in "That is easily got." "A client, then?" swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they him." could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, "No, finished." safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. the dangers which encompass me." events than those which have happened in my own family." "On your arm?" served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I Henry Baker is a member." separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, like that before?" last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my round and wave him away like that.' "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us "Why did you beat the pavement?" "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" his face which made him a very different person to the round, and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and "It was a confession," I ejaculated. the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the "What do you mean?" impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his giving me time to thank him. caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily showing my impatience. send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." "My photograph." "Yes, but only for you and me." "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs of receipt of the work. room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. "Entirely." three fields round his house, and there he would take his four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled "And what then?" his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have "May I see it?" "Pray let us have it, for all that." correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, "To the police?" Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar strength in the others." Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed it right.' had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to where she found matters as described by the last witness. paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still "From his hat?" to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, "Where, then?" young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched "I was sure that I might rely on you." fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, "How did he come?" one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a tassel actually lying upon the pillow. a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, 11:15.' the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they your sleep?' have had none more fantastic than this." directors, with the result that you have seen." world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as what these perils are?" threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a from the brougham. her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of the child." done what I asked you, Jones?" But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting