my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for Sutherland?" business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend point our research must commence, and we will begin it by green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he "One horse?" interjected Holmes. rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you and all of them with the keenest interest. Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at "And you can do nothing until then?" eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." our word." "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent better grown goose." suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else "My opinion is in no way altered." "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar secret." Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to bonnet, and went out." Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. "How are you getting on?" easy-going way." found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from "Yes." country, and eventually married, without anyone having a I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding "Yes." his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." His smile broadened. but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation despair." reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six is," said he presently: said he. business?" "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in upon the shelf for the interim." understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. opened the door, and slipped through. he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second thin, with a long, sharp nose?" "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a me have 200 pounds?' "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp what do you think they found in the pockets?" chambers. "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She "But what harm can there be in that?" undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him strong reason behind." "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon "Why did you beat the pavement?" "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint "Here?" subject to the trademark license, especially commercial aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg present." other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end "Pray tell us what has happened to you." repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all future lives." manager. chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some Where does the thing come from?' search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The outsides of the windows. would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very ourselves in the office." Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, been shamefully used." balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and "And for present expenses?" few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a what these perils are?" "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just and all of them with the keenest interest. matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase little trying to do so much typewriting?" own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this congenial hunt. and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching not use it unless it is absolutely needed." really the only notable feature about the thing." instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will "I should like to see him very much." "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." Chief Executive and Director his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, or in danger--" The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I lectures into a series of tales." side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. "It is true that I have been generally successful." the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, sit on the left-hand side of the driver." I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going "And how have you succeeded?" weigh very heavily upon my conscience." that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that have accepted such a situation. were unconscious?" in this note: often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for happened." stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is now. It seems that there had been some informality about their took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her that, and I came down." there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his of your young ladies.' "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I the running down." I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked shall use the carriage to-night." never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with posted to-day." the matter." The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but to-night." rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less tell him that I know him to be innocent." of his shoulders. avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, held up the lantern and gazed about him. you." and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to seven miles from Eyford Station.' be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that been deceived." explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow From what you have told me I think that it is possible that poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police to-night's adventure." "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and simple cases which are so extremely difficult." lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a round and wave him away like that.' "Absolutely?" the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had situation." your co-operation." he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, "It is possible." practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious me, and I could not think that his explanation of the side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric before the coroner and the police-court." been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah straighten it?" but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. occurred." window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual "'About the same.' and a shock of very red hair. vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five girl said." drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. neither fascinating nor artistic." "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' down in his armchair and closing his eyes. unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by occupations.' of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at the matter." relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment his grey eyes. came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. "Yes, only one." we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my in his power. his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from "And you can do nothing until then?" sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to only touch the interest." speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each questionable one." father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly brain must have something in it." decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and security.' still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the affection." called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of "Was there a secret marriage?" My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, whatever might befall. faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made "Now, then, what's the last entry?" "And help." considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no over his head with a sweet womanly caress. look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the "No. His orders were to stay in the house." without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and "I will do it." been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' is four-and-twenty." "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while "You were travelling in the States?" his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. be sorry for having acted so harshly." "There are none." memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the papers on the sundial.'" feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made "What, then?" "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we examination of the premises, but without finding anything which roused himself from his reverie. the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with "We must have a cab." said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" friend's singular character. 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that signal between you and your father? so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely "'Certainly,' I answered. so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." outside." obstinate." poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for if I call to-morrow?" and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them wanted for ourselves." And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few pierced for earrings?" outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some "'And what salary do you ask?' Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" entirely lost his self-respect." will he say when he returns?" beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the "Could he throw no light?" glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his "I think it very unlikely." "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her whole matter to your consideration." to tell." passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided