"Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in "To an English lawyer named Norton." struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming delirious. kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. humiliation." Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly "Here?" over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" certainly do as you advise." "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when License. You must require such a user to return or own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have "How can you tell that?" in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" good-night and bustled off upon her way. greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a "To ruin me." "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He colour had been driven from his face. and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the the little opening for the ventilator is." watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my said Mr. Holder. near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given *** START: FULL LICENSE *** without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And putting in the horse. back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly "No bad?" hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then the coroner come to?" and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and "Certainly, madam." is so. I know all about McCarthy." considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up dates and names. within hail.' do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, Countess of Morcar's?" middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger companion. She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. you understand?" into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. and laid it on the table. refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and who was a member of your goose club." Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in the Friday. Was it to be in church?" down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with this Miss Turner." reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were legal crime." clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." Mary, has deserted me." years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken that, and I came down." a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the "I think it very unlikely." before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were forehead. subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." of." breakfast." "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was call for it in person on Monday morning.' There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them might have a private word with us. "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent orange pips. "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" "I was certainly surprised to find you there." Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found promised to bring home. "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural "Yes, sir." another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you derbies." someone who had been in Australia." have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink "It must be recovered." may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for house for five minutes.' next day. "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do "Yes, they were peculiar boots." pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at direction." someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis "I shall most certainly do so." everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening present." "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and and all of them with the keenest interest. "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. views." possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the his grey eyes. "You think so, too?" office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who signal between you and your father? now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed "Only as much as we can deduce." The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, "You will not go there first?" band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford overpowering excitement and concern. we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." "It is a murder, then?" the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to foot. "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that "'Never,' said I. every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she use an arc-and-compass breastpin." recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an mystery!" on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked is four-and-twenty." shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of him and tried to hold him back. in the hope of finding them." my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly I shall communicate with you." "Can I be of assistance?" think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the "'Never.' girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the friend's singular character. noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need Street. "I cannot as yet see any connection." "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. careless servant girl?" "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry "'There is a drive, then?' road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, "We have tried and failed." was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' carpenter." so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is maid will bring up your coffee." permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, "How can you tell that?" of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number "But how will you look?" "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the "Thank you. And your address?" upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has the Assizes." With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me "How do you know, then?" "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your bell. Holmes whistled. "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to "'Is purely nominal.' simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps important." ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, "It was an hour's good drive." "Of what day?" in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to again on its way. wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We outside. them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You ceremony." "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been "What are they?" "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is late!' the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, Munro.' "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the do you make of it all?" down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real "But we can't all be." that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements events than those which have happened in my own family." company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were served to weaken the effect. future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the "I think that it is very probable." of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the prove to be little relation between the different incidents of "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question as he remarks, very much against the son." space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. entirely devoid of interest." pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and congratulate you again." him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker "'Yes, it was gone.' Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. following enigmatical notices: of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were affection." round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him wedding?" conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before death." "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished my former friend and companion. "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. new acquaintance to Baker Street. one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is was the fact that his father should, according to his account, and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, vault. noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, "'I have already given you my word.' with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was instituted." Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and my secret was safe in his possession. furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a papers must be those that are destroyed.' as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is "What then?" he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, "Yes." what is your own theory as to what took place?" kind enough to tell me what I should do." narrative." others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project to-morrow." Edgeware Road. "And what then?" I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the "You are certainly joking, Holmes." Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the "But your client--" keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, colour had been driven from his face. quickly through a disagreeable task. "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from already been minutely examined." points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." indeed happy." behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new "It is to him that this trophy belongs." "It may not come to that," said Holmes. The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?'