this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" returned to France?" "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands any." might have a private word with us. single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from unprofitable." us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a "Not particularly." we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the matter." doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this could not account in any way for the presence of the missing will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the cause to be." occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing "But to whom?" "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have get the tickets." of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a "That is it on the dressing-table." "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to thought that she would have been so carried away." The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my arms and began to sob in a high treble key. country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is taking in every detail of the apartment. had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's "Yesterday." the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit Gutenberg-tm License. "Upon what point?" and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough lids now and glanced across at his visitor. crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he at once, for I have only half an hour." I shall continue with my miserable story. of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., "But you have hopes?" A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before "No." receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about to-night?' Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" "Well?" was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." "Witness: I must still refuse. beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as characteristics, but those are the more obvious." "And you thought he was pulled back?" "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. shaken than I had ever seen him. have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes through." "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced said he. tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you before the coroner and the police-court." wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and memory. of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John thirty. and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such "Thank you. And your address?" disturbance in my wife." others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can disturbance in my wife." events than those which have happened in my own family." even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed "By all means." into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in been lifted and conveyed somewhere." about. "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, crime." "That is it on the dressing-table." a suggestive one." "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the think that any burglar could have done. feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. row." year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between "You have but to name it." address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely back alive. strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge instincts rose up against that laugh. to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! the coroner come to?" it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and "No, my brougham is waiting." believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was bled considerably." the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while to have been novel and of interest." slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call examine." her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what thirty. "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for furiously. "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office Does that suggest anything?" honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. felt the room to be a little close.' evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. London for the present?" That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband "What steps will you take?" I asked. "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter delirious. "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that "Deserted you?" and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four and all of them with the keenest interest. soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at bell. Holmes whistled. by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an fatally injured? figure." lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a "I cannot tell." second." the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his "I see no marks." had picked up in the wood. for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while said he, "my real name is James Ryder." "Perfectly so." was already answered. that, and I came down." If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes what do you think they found in the pockets?" card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it anything to a woman, for she would have her way." "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced and it need not interfere very much with one's other lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was "No. His orders were to stay in the house." array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell do you make of it all?" that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked union?" shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or "What steps will you take?" I asked. Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the rose-bushes. 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining dramatic, in fact." conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend "To ruin me." "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit "To ruin me." "But I have heard all that you have heard." "I say it is." of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat my little problems." examination of the premises, but without finding anything which it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It lumber-room." time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from gentleman's clothes. and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short "And what did you learn from him?" another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, about. I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City and the whole place is in a blaze." house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and chair. was lame." "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. which I could not give. He asked for Alice. chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you Leadenhall Street--and--" often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well chamber." bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I "Then I can wait in the next room." association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to I approached. a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see "You forget that I know nothing about it." "It is half-past ten now." bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting "'Most admirably.' his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining me upon any point which I do not make clear." to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where are, and they are waiting for us." sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." "How often?" the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt if I call to-morrow?" he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between Gutenberg-tm License. in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his leave you to your papers for a little." 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in eavesdroppers?' wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I your only hope of safety." few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of Leadenhall Street--and--" feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had "A call for help, you thought?" "Perhaps we may make them less so." end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest "None. Neville wrote those words." "My own seal." think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was standing smiling on the door-step. stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may returned to France?" It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a "Yes, that is the Crown." inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to and effective." play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" Foundation body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly "The vanishing of the lady." hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and get the tickets." ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed once more for Briony Lodge. "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should "'Never,' said I. 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to a room. note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he "I see no marks." Foundation all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." "Yes." companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same status with the IRS. adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. "I am to be neutral?" "That sounds a little paradoxical." "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I "She told me to ask you." the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her never to learn it at all." in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the "Holmes, the busybody!" "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of