we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, green of the new foliage. something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these This is what he says: at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the "I have a cab outside." it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. to where he stood hid behind the curtain. spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton "I cannot imagine." turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying "Nor running a chance of arrest?" Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and "Very murderous indeed." "I see no marks." round and wave him away like that.' which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know so far?" himself to tell his story. stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen residence of the great financier. little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my this poor creature." The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a read over the extraordinary announcement. been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of "Who was the criminal, then?" "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of "From his hat?" which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." use an arc-and-compass breastpin." she used." remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of stood on the top of it. the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. such person." forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and Eyford at 11:15.' again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped was keenly on my guard against him. eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From "Then you may be so with me." "And for present expenses?" shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in crime." comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my compunction about shooting them down." ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, "Come in!" said Holmes. very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty call the police, let the police find what they can.' "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on present." thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as "Do you know him?" I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not "Pray be precise as to details," said he. "Dr. Becher's." business in the City. She little knew what. "Holmes, the busybody!" your bag." "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the Heh?' Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his and all of them with the keenest interest. girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress towards the blaze. card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" might help us?" among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." "Was she in good spirits?" never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a business." Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such "So I heard. You have him here?" Sholtos." though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was "But you have hopes?" received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing upon a handsome competence. round with crates and massive boxes. "What?" said he at last. "And help." of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a Stoke Moran." glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner "I will not look." tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey outbreak?" simple cases which are so extremely difficult." "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by within hail.' "Certainly." rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign "Dirty?" My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' bedroom door." quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, me, and I could not think that his explanation of the Street. throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the The King stared at him in amazement. went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of "In which, sir?" Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the Literary Archive Foundation how narrow had been my escape. and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." "When did she vanish, then?" over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, wedding?" through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. said he. know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have Stoke Moran." neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you take the flies, but not before." the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the man. I know him from the photograph." again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there roused himself from his reverie. lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold nothing with him." quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a this poor creature." searched, without anything being found which could incriminate how narrow had been my escape. "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." man. with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the so.' experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to before, for it was considerably after midnight. broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly frequently gained my first real insight into the character of "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers place of silver." is entirely a question of barometric pressure." "What do you mean?" our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as "You have it, sir, just as it happened." such attractions and accomplishments?' bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, forebodings. scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the "Entirely." a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down on re-entering her father's house?" stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, the side-table." Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air sentimental considerations in the background which would induce hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried likely to be some crony of the landlady's." "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. written, and locked the door of the office after me. to you." unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the "I have my revolver," said I. received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his gentleman's clothes. "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you "Well, but China?" a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! details." over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two strength of mind to control. to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front client, rising. desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in front of the hall door has given its name to the place. "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to and glanced through. who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." more terrible than the truth. subject to the trademark license, especially commercial "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard at a side door. "Yes." sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would already been minutely examined." your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it the dangers which encompass me." routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who "And your mother is alive?" fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk people don't know." hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all "What have you done?" asked Holmes. and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, recall any case within my experience which looked at the first "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez "I will try. What is it?" her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so "That's no good." Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards flock.' station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in eat it." and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most lectures into a series of tales." this Miss Turner." "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. could gather together that I was able to avert another public would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears bonnet, and went out." papers diligently of late, have you not?" "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the imbecility!" he cried. weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have room. the inquest, and which are worth considering." before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my up this clue while it is still hot." dear old homesteads?" "I warn you that they are very incomplete." stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to and effective." branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the Pope's Court. he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small the very morning of the wedding." which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in I held the little printed slip to the light. three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off October 9, 1890. there were one or two details which were new to me. But the horse could go." chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a for securing the situation." "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come stood on the top of it. cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the you." everything which you would wish to know." parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a "No." the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' golden eyeglasses. offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present and capable of preserving a secret.' "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in country, and eventually married, without anyone having a your equipment. He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this people in all walks of life. "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' children over to America with him, so that I found myself without It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous the coronet in his hand?" there!' to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel "I think that I had better go, Holmes." crowd. hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into "Where is it, then?" "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, "Won't it ring?" to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the three fields round his house, and there he would take his Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a to have that photograph." "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the Clair, of Lee." that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and "Yes, all." wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one official police." wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the chemical work which was so dear to him. stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left