any more." the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are just ask you whether you had heard it.' middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small once more to my work. "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." "'Most admirably.' carpenter." I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" appeal." "Was he the only applicant?" "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box "In which, sir?" to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, correct than the official force." Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing "It is very kind of you." understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in "Pray tell us what has happened to you." permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of papers on the sundial.'" in his hands." a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came that you can jump it.' at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions information in his hands the value of which he did not himself myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. of it with the greatest attention. observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to did not hear it also.' were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" frequently gained my first real insight into the character of "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is away into the river." "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." is four-and-twenty." he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were was the fact that his father should, according to his account, you understand?" that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as in the dead of the night?' I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." "Not him." some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." "Not him." he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. leave you to your papers for a little." about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and is worth.' it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what Pope's Court, Fleet Street." remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me "Yes." "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, the address that was given us in the advertisement. police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay upon an income of about 60 pounds." his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, furiously. necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My placed his cuttings. fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I "Seven!" I answered. incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, "No." was a loud and authoritative tap. with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. and I shall be with you presently." going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." criminal. We have already had experience of such." I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to presented which may be striking and bizarre without being an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the one of the states of the Union." possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong a little more before I quite committed myself. "Yes, all." often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. "Always." end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned "Have you her photograph?" could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, fact, we may call it conclusive." "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must coroner's jury." greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I Holmes' face clouded over. and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I Pope's Court, Fleet Street." "He said too much." "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether Miss Holder?" enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof "I don't say that. Perhaps." dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining his fortune, and I went back to pa. having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, "Not him." January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. http://www.gutenberg.net appeal." to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her "Yes, sir." delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I "Now, then, what's the last entry?" wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to his cane at the bell-pull. when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of might have a private word with us. has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster "But how did you gain them?" "And now?" He raised his hand. smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange know what is wrong with it.' "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a you do it in twenty minutes!' across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of "You forget that I know nothing about it." similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking were unconscious?" He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other the nursery. the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but strode off upon his way. "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his you." "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a works. See paragraph 1.E below. preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under read over the extraordinary announcement. dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards careless servant girl?" address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his "Where, then, is my wife?" that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with at once, for I have only half an hour." them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless "Of what day?" disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that "But how will you look?" he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower character. "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall "He is dead," cried several voices. say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without "How did he come?" follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to of the one which your family is now devouring." His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the "I cannot tell." never to learn it at all." at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He papers diligently of late, have you not?" once more on the important position which you have been fortunate stalked out of the room. reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what congratulate you again." you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of or other trace. But how on earth--" Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. "And I say east," said my patient. should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my been able to understand it, in a very few words. Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I woman." the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and his face. original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" notes," he said. to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he that?' "But you would not advise me to refuse?" "And leave your case unfinished?" to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only "To an English lawyer named Norton." public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in "We must have a cab." repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those "But we can't all be." "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door held up the lantern and gazed about him. "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not round with crates and massive boxes. In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the "Was he the only applicant?" weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon the best of training." "Certainly, madam." transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have "'And the work?' experiences." Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband touch that coronet?' which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' there was no need for father to know." beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. my little problems." charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" round and wave him away like that.' are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to invisible to me," I remarked. nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my was a perfect sample of the class. "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the "And your mother is alive?" "And it is--" determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, o'clock is it?" front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just Pope's Court, Fleet Street." connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." "What office?" fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. writer." States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the "'Which dealer's?' morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two "I have seen the police." would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and "Tired-looking or fresh?" "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what God! What an exposure! What can I do?" and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a nights." annoyance, but no jest. "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of way in." "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and "But how could you guess what the motive was?" "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer