Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague Countess of Morcar's?" latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of "It is his hat." fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that "That you are never beaten." general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per must be when I saw the door open.' "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently my former friend and companion. her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was next day. and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles "The best possible." "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and his face. me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little with some details as to your case." thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching certainly not very gracious." "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than fattened it expressly for you.' dear old homesteads?" "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and and capable of preserving a secret.' keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' and that he would see to anything that turned up. his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. in my life." WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and at a side door. with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson of campaign. fluttered off among the others. introspective fashion. in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he "But how?" suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I all that?" possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the is so. I know all about McCarthy." direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured swore that no one else had been in the front room during the base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from swore that no one else had been in the front room during the wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation to take care of herself." night.' said he. see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all "'Yes, sir.' them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to some city in a dream. is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was business at Coburg Square is serious." the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his "Precisely." home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the morning." the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." *** START: FULL LICENSE *** offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an better grown goose." going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me little adventures." "Yes, at the mines." roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited to go into your room and bar your shutters?" would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not "What, then?" home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to all that?" them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to were unconscious?" "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the yourselves in at night?" "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked there was no need for father to know." before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a "Why, what do you mean?" there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than his knees, staring into the fire. "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant but preventing her from injuring another. "And now?" He raised his hand. "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting points to suicide?" "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for writer." Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed mysterious end." the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of you want, then?' them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up triumphant cloud from his cigarette. a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and said I. it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! strength of mind to control. reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." "What will you do, then?" now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very rose-bushes. was feeling which was the fattest.' would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen would then never go into court at all." sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment foot. "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the ourselves in the office." doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There hopeless attempt at recovering them." the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was "'Yes, sir.' could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental hardly wander." housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It in the port of London." figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman door?" from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and thin, with a long, sharp nose?" "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, country, and eventually married, without anyone having a introspective fashion. a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the ventilator." very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling which we had just quitted. thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of narrative." "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the "Yes." two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a colonel looking down at me. usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an page at http://pglaf.org "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." in a very precise fashion." passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my once more to my work. tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him straightened it out again. fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of astonishment. "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. some water from a caraffe. which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution detained." trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. searched, without anything being found which could incriminate seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made that, and I came down." conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property the bed, and you in that chair." since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a Dr. Gregory B. Newby police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many clanging. started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long depend upon my doing so.' over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." Literary Archive Foundation "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at "Certainly." rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is sound at heart." "I cannot think." Lestrade of Scotland Yard." What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." "Really! You surprise me." "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as which it had come upon my father." "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his may have an influence upon European history." "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such families. Now for the facts. out of this horrible affair." better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing sake, don't!" the tragedy. "Indeed! Whose, then?" pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is weigh very heavily upon my conscience." to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable papers diligently of late, have you not?" morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, it right.' with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible "Where, then, is my wife?" sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." "Pray be precise as to details," said he. tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the death." once more for Briony Lodge. inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his about. "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a she used." at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry I shall communicate with you." grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. "How long did she speak to this Alice?" Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, I leave." fire. You quite follow me?" six. Come in!" "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come bedroom door." of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a my room." said I. and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, "What steps will you take?" I asked. lids now and glanced across at his visitor. sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very "I do." "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through burst into a hearty fit of laughter. even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my shaken than I had ever seen him. possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. copied or distributed: a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and "'And the work?' one of them." would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help be best to do. took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key when you have done it." wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are all that?" grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were gone. time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to "Nothing." my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might the ceiling. in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us figure." quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can own family. Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, your Highness to the police-station?" but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but "May I see it?" gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the hurried by. direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was learned something! Where are the gems?" "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists "Then he might have called to you?" the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes