"But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive held up the lantern and gazed about him. from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your future lives." here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the "Yes, sir." watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call "Where did you address your letters, then?" would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his detained." the roots. Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that giving me time to thank him. reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you "Proceed, then." unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had "Of what?" did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the "Certainly." going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I "Thank you. And your address?" "Yes, at the mines." "'Yes, I promise.' "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. the tragedy. in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the London for the present?" the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did might have a private word with us. business?" drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. IS governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg followed. severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking with the outside air!" I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case "Will you bet, then?" "Eh? What was that?" "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of she slowly sank and died without having recovered her creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle Farm upon the left." ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is Henry Baker is a member." and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of straightened it out again. cheerful." smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from I approached. the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you "'What, the red-headed man?' said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just power." burst out into a roar of laughter. lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work that you saw all that I did." happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster that he has suffered." bonnet, and went out." purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the distance from the station, and there we found the young lady very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family straightened it out again. the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among "Then I shall certainly come." hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said "It is a murder, then?" "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my a little more before I quite committed myself. chair. relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no yards of it?' to have that photograph." an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to at my remark. acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than over part of the map. "What do you read?" "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." "Absolutely none." mystery!" Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom the inner apartment." young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither the south-west, I see." straightened it out again. hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and hopeless attempt at recovering them." me have 200 pounds?' law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an the roots. "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. criminal. We have already had experience of such." stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and "No." metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then "Then, how do you know?" "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a second." confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to politicians who had been sent down from the North. Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. the window, rose as we entered. This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was "But how did you gain them?" of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so along the entire front of the house, with three long windows unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the "But he might be a bachelor." put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him the little opening for the ventilator is." of receipt of the work. Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not country, and eventually married, without anyone having a Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and brandy and water within his reach. urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. 'I should be able to look after that for you.' "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted this Miss Turner." I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on "I cannot tell." happened." time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress not use it unless it is absolutely needed." residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a "It surprised me." hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' "You'll never persuade me to believe that." little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the second window is the one that I jumped from." any." utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he "It came here." stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a "Yes." course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you "Do you receive much company?" he asked. "Was there a secret marriage?" the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the his face. "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." "You did not overhear what they said?" inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his the roots. "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes thin legs towards the fire. present strange and interesting features that it is no easy the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take knowledge of the world." stammered. difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as instincts rose up against that laugh. other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, and the church but not where the lady lived." his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were sooner or later she must fall a victim. "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A the morning and make my own way in the world.' room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. "Married! When?" Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of happened." her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain be sorry for having acted so harshly." into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work never will be, entirely cleared up. down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me had formerly been in part my own. it? Did I buy the geese off you?" "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same leave you to your papers for a little." we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a "Was she in good spirits?" stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." or other trace. But how on earth--" that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who hands. "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." the side-table." and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled stood on the top of it. late!' London for the present?" "Holmes, the busybody!" some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and shadow pass over his face as I spoke. prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, "Never." shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and his fortune, and I went back to pa. pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. "You have the photograph?" "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an to where he stood hid behind the curtain. "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred opened a pocket-book and took out a note. acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of "I am sure." writer." screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. hurried away. "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. "No." we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down it." "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, said I. whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of "'As governess?' reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots "Where did he live, then?" part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each any little problem which you may submit to me." and put his glass in his pocket. transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but voice, changing her seat as requested. appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I the driver. Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been your equipment. "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your "Yes, from Horsham." But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and written. of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be distance from the station, and there we found the young lady clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms it? Did I buy the geese off you?" acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a "Always." however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well burst out into a roar of laughter. "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the here and I will read it to you: Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' all that?" presented more singular features than that which was associated I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow "No." it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it "No." than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, the very letters. But what is this written above them?' She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He "From his hat?" "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have morning." generous with you in money matters.' received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his "So I have heard."