"Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the "You will not go there first?" wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each it? Did I buy the geese off you?" has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at congratulate you again." were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this your own bird, so if you wish--" "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you "The landlord of the Alpha." "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. here." daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock said I. "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be "I say that I have solved it." arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite "And why?" me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' me, and I could not think that his explanation of the Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from investigation." in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to someone who had been in Australia." our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you carriage. It was a chestnut." and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, heavy and sharp instrument." What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning at my remark. "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it back alive. dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should straighten it?" hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, "Quite so. She has her freedom." saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that "None. Neville wrote those words." muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" the coronet in his hands?" should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the "'Most admirably.' Holmes' room. remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, "I have solved it." difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was eavesdroppers?' leave you to your papers for a little." envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly became a certainty. "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I had a long day." St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. train from Paddington which would bring you there at about I think that I could be of assistance to you." "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade status with the IRS. magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next "You heard nothing yourself last night?" crackling voice. the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet purpose equally well?" Cross for the Continent." place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in that I may have something better before very many minutes are "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled thought that she would have been so carried away." lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence not use it unless it is absolutely needed." affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried "Then the page we have seen--" "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all "'What, the red-headed man?' his forehead." "I cannot tell." "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." any." come either from the window or the door. My attention was with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the "Why did you beat the pavement?" work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. awaited us upon the table. heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, official police." old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." "Was she in good spirits?" "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the outside." know what is wrong with it.' creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting "May I see it?" hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in the coroner come to?" "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. official police." and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the ashen face. out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." the little opening for the ventilator is." "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my The police have openly confessed that they can at present make knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. quick march!" such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House sound at heart." Leave Paddington by the 11:15." such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated papers must be those that are destroyed.' expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One "But how?" the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in my former friend and companion. The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry But Holmes shook his head gravely. "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, directors have had misgivings upon the subject." "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. garden below. the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, recall any case within my experience which looked at the first weary and pale-looking. silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, brain must have something in it." trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." remarked. its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this someone who had been in Australia." husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid "But what harm can there be in that?" foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. lids now and glanced across at his visitor. called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored "Did you observe the colour?" "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. the matter?" "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has affair. passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I you in your example." shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course Mrs. Toller serenely. photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The in the port of London." "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and "It goes to the housekeeper's room." anything to a woman, for she would have her way." not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of feature." "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the "But she will refuse." "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any "No, distinctly professional." pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. fat-encircled eyes. trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a "It goes to the housekeeper's room." written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you corner of the building. had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its whole matter to your consideration." corner of the building. statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': sooner or later she must fall a victim. the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the second." in the port of London." and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I bill, which interests me deeply." Lestrade of Scotland Yard." interests were the same as his." dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless too. "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A "So it appears." "Then what has happened to him?" cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" "Yesterday." into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be his face. in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower goes." Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only I held the little printed slip to the light. "Do you know him?" up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a case before our client came into the room." "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, fishes. "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes "'Yes, sir.' hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day "BALLARAT." coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate to change my dress. conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the you?" from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two examine." ceremony." has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' interests were the same as his." "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be "And how did you verify them?" "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking "I am about to be married." refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch occupations.' Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their the bottom.' who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something "He said that you could solve anything." never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide laugh and put his lips to my ear. whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more "My dear Holmes!" Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the geese which you supplied to the Alpha." Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that heavy and sharp instrument." it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very