"Only as much as we can deduce." were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we deduce something from that?" woman who has had her own way to make in the world. "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in me have 200 pounds?' been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very my special province." nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? nonsense.' "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the the salesman. "I have hopes." "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are arrested. You then--" notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced I nodded again. be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." "'Is purely nominal.' showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly noble correspondent could be. One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out "Ample." "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ bill, which interests me deeply." them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay "My dear Holmes!" the very morning of the wedding." "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on absorbing." the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that "I have a cab outside." near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement you understand?" did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where better in every way that they should make their position a little "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. see a sister of mine apply for." engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I right! Sit down and let us talk it over." my special province." filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the room?" Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and happened." whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man straighten it?" It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must have accepted such a situation. pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an it. His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this "What will you do, then?" of this gang." the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has round and wave him away like that.' Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just "You'll never persuade me to believe that." such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep presume?" several quiet little villages up there." "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it nothing of it?" myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very "Just look it up, then." to arrive at through this?" fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the impression behind it as though a window had gently closed "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the "Yes. He waved his hands." formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, opened a pocket-book and took out a note. door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know narrative." there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the London for the present?" "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." matter." question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a in his hands." seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for not come at once?" afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel "Where, indeed?" I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who imbecility!" he cried. enter into my head. "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." Miss Holder?" enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will this man was intellectual?" over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." "'It is locked up,' I answered. over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' then?" while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of "He is dead," cried several voices. chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from with you alone." providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read believe that I should never have any practice at all. half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple them?" than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more "But your client--" down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the You can understand that this register and diary may implicate "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no "And sit in the dark?" roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, particular state visit http://pglaf.org and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm "'Very good.' Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a bed dies. Does not that strike you?" "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the that he has suffered." as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the shoulder. august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" frequently gained my first real insight into the character of could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets this remarkable episode. like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray carpenter." the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that because she had spent so short a time in this country that she I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several the devil!" ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and future lives." who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" "A client, then?" "What?" his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. experiences." writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the daring than any effort of the imagination." "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of paper in the air. Cross for the Continent." speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, despair." chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have weapon." apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, cigars in the box." fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors I took the paper from him and read as follows: "Absolutely?" "How can you tell that?" sufficient punishment." "Then I am your man." "Indeed! Whose, then?" original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The ordinary clothes on?" A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. the address that was given us in the advertisement. careless servant girl?" ourselves in the office." it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been "I warn you that they are very incomplete." "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in "It is half-past ten now." chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass compunction about shooting them down." "I was sure that I might rely on you." hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many was used.' I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told in a very precise fashion." "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the tension within him. "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. "I shall be delighted." headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my in darkness. grasp, he hurried from the room. "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." "No." suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in "Thank you. Pray proceed." slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an of note-paper. It read in this fashion: in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution asked with his eyes open. hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by shadow pass over his face as I spoke. together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. suspect him." us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is "That is not always so easy." departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to The summons was a brief and urgent one. "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend address. happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. "Where to?" towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and From what you have told me I think that it is possible that "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. "It surprised me." every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. been lifted and conveyed somewhere." about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting call for protection in the marriage market, for the present violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' arrangements." house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a and your relations to her." "Could he throw no light?" "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, even so self-evident a thing as that." Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, him. a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be I took the paper from him and read as follows: however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce their singular warning or token before them when starting upon despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." there when the Rucastles went away." fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a cause to be." signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The "We were both in the photograph." to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, "What have you done?" asked Holmes. For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit Arthur Conan Doyle occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. observed. preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. place no limit on the sum I may draw." 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in "And you thought he was pulled back?" were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the singular points about the case. What did the police think of the "So I heard. You have him here?" for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the feature." whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. existence." his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at "Yes, the wine-cellar." with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" "Well, some hundreds of times." even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see "Which surely he restored to their owner?" "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with