gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as on re-entering her father's house?" trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at she used." eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was John Swain, of St. Augustine. "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. intimate personal affairs in this public manner." mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the "Yes, all." "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." "The Cedars?" that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. upon the shelf for the interim." is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. "Certainly." intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more photograph a cabinet?" "Murdered?" showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed house for five minutes.' sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs believe that I should never have any practice at all. matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was "A greater distance to travel." which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, "My last client of the sort was a king." here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. husband's writing, madam." from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away persecution?" while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the have been better. It is all right." "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall floor. from you?" young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been "How did he come?" paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. to affect your life." upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to she to prove their authenticity?" "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my DAMAGE. suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life only touch the interest." and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees "My photograph." villagers almost as much as their master. at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her possible that we could bring him back to her? "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a present strange and interesting features that it is no easy Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are "No, I think that I'll take it." "My dear Holmes!" "Nothing." "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we followed. off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I taking in every detail of the apartment. What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more read it out to me." I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of words came to my lips. "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation friend's singular character. his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the "At half-wages, in fact." "How many? I don't know." "That was it, sir." introspective fashion. word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to both be extremely obliged.' violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon "Then what has happened to him?" "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety "'And the work?' arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round must compliment you." Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster started for the Temple to see my husband. given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you things are very often connected not with the larger but with the unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and to affect your life." of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" it were putty." answer." "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," "This concluded the examination of the witness." a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, "It certainly sounds feasible." As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a "My dear Holmes!" wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks your equipment. a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the "In answer to an advertisement." papers must be those that are destroyed.' an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point the loss of it. we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to I have it here in my museum." relation between them, and what the object of his repeated the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, front of me. "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, "That is easily got." Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations strong and stiff." right! Sit down and let us talk it over." owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his then?" daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. may have an influence upon European history." began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who the south-west, I see." young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss "But not more so than I to find you." possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." McCarthy's innocence. moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to *** START: FULL LICENSE *** sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of "'Tell me all about it,' said I. round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So stepfather?" which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something very old mansion. "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" congratulate you again." Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" sparkled upon his finger. "It was." Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had "I have my revolver," said I. But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has once more for Briony Lodge. For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason someone who had been in Australia." enter into my head. of the one which your family is now devouring." long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a several quiet little villages up there." "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very I shall communicate with you." American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so Sutherland. I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the was lame." on in his house." Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are voice. society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed Munro.' works. "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much "The vanishing of the lady." "Will you go?" he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he problems help me to do so." rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left matter over." waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which "You have compromised yourself seriously." her also." over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when she to prove their authenticity?" had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The "I warn you that they are very incomplete." and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been the driver. with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which that you saw all that I did." had formerly been in part my own. and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." Leadenhall Street--and--" until night should bring an explanation. future lives." I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and that I am arrested." "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. village inn over there?" However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." ready to-morrow?' enter into my head. glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! "But it has twice been burgled." the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will "'A dozen yards or so.' makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." "Yes." his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project details should find their way into the papers. Inspector keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which at my own good fortune. think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny questionable one." Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the the Assizes." call it cruel." overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the that you can jump it.' he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand rat could hardly pass through." fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to upon the shelf for the interim." - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how you give your casting vote to?" away into the river." rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest "I am all attention, madam." and a shock of very red hair. said Mr. Holder. machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and voice, changing her seat as requested. the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of which should have the effect of calling the attention of the his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual know what is wrong with it.' conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. was lame." your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are where we are going." It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he even of instruction." "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to seen the man in the road." job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, front of me. "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his and prosperity to your house. Good-night." resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told "What do you mean?" comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to you." had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a