liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the "It is possible." there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very tightly behind him. yet." whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" the night.' "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been she slowly sank and died without having recovered her "I am in hopes that she does." now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of "My stepfather's business papers." Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a overpowering excitement and concern. produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. galvanised. man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I "Upon what point?" for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the joking. "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another events, Mr. Windibank!" "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the important." there is a decided draught." laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss "Perhaps we may make them less so." departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to straightened it out again. some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which Countess of Morcar's?" The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, "But it has twice been burgled." "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you salesman. severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us hurried by. also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen "'And what are they worth?' I asked. He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its the morning and make my own way in the world.' British peeress.'" drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to The summons was a brief and urgent one. "I cannot tell." chill to my heart. Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to sound at heart." should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was Doctor, of the paper and the date." to his chemical studies. his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this the best of training." assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately not fit the lock." "Won't it ring?" would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' down. "At the wedding breakfast." seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America directors have had misgivings upon the subject." sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe formed some opinion?" "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to himself to hunt down. to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn a good hundred miles off by now." written, and locked the door of the office after me. in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black "I came to find a friend." be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the "And now?" I asked. bled considerably." fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the yet." attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." business at Coburg Square is serious." Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure "She showed me, as I told you she would." "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' where Mr. Fordham shows you.' do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie the ceiling. "Really! You surprise me." may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the and inquire as to the address." and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. "I see many objections to any such theory." the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." His smile broadened. "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually your most interesting statement." explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of putting in the horse. to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, "My Mary? Impossible!" seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, "And is that all?" however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me matters immensely." younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point remarked. difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were "It may not come to that," said Holmes. observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more "'Tell me all about it,' said I. business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" "Then I am your man." seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the brought there to personate someone, and the real person is away to you." am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out will find little credit to be gained out of this case." all?" "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was such person." "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing impression behind it as though a window had gently closed madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very "I am armed." "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; my friend's incisive reasoning. before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or the devil!" appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is "'Never.' go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood his fortune, and I went back to pa. cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and silent! Oh, he will be silent!' often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of me what he had done with the three missing stones. "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would "No." If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." purpose equally well?" have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will "Not yet." we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back "'Is purely nominal.' said I. "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He read over the extraordinary announcement. when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and where Mr. Fordham shows you.' "Yes, but only for you and me." was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young chance at all." all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the Holmes' room. that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, there." my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, "What have you to say now?" Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way o'clock is it?" Street. to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently Sutherland?" is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them works. See paragraph 1.E below. case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to the one as in the other." "Was he the only applicant?" coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." way in everything. door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest sake, don't!" "Pray do so." in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a "By all means." Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in acted in my house last night?" ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an companion. temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, do.' as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a into the room. unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had "Certainly." would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for green of the new foliage. "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I that threaten you." hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his "Nearly eleven." astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. quickly through a disagreeable task. come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now name is different." wanted for ourselves." "Yes. He waved his hands." ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that colonel looking down at me. than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more good-night and bustled off upon her way. Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower returning from some small jollification and was making his way events, Mr. Windibank!" greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and yards of it?' orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police some city in a dream. "VIOLET HUNTER." known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came fashion which was peculiar to him. "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were "Your presence might be invaluable." This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to McCarthy's innocence. ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, "And now?" I asked. vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. directors, with the result that you have seen." "'I have already given you my word.' "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and thin legs towards the fire. great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously "Breckinridge is his name." "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a matters immensely." "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the and I shall be with you presently." the devil!" of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. "How on earth--" who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no a room. thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell,