"Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very affection." another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not returned to France?" reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. to Leatherhead. way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon there were one or two details which were new to me. But the with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the made him keep the appointment." the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is used to be." round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest "Stoke Moran?" said he. society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. putting in the horse. unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter "You think so, too?" I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an "How many? I don't know." desk. and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began himself. 11:15.' 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits be sorry for having acted so harshly." "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." papers." plantation.' out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of "What, then, did Peterson do?" no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of this truth that in these little records of our cases which you seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at "Do you receive much company?" he asked. "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. it right.' concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside "At half-wages, in fact." which was all perfectly true. parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally "'And what are they worth?' I asked. finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, "And Miss Sutherland?" if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been bird of prey. confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary "What! a murderous attack?" was it brought him the coronet? you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when which we had just quitted. James Windibank. Voilà tout!" as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a "And I." what is your own theory as to what took place?" kind enough to tell me what I should do." course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in him nearly every evening." the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, "You were travelling in the States?" action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and without success. At last the little money which I had saved began "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you "No." may never be exposed to such a temptation." feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and possible that we could bring him back to her? hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered evidence," I remarked. spare." without a word or a look. although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the relation between them, and what the object of his repeated of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." neither fascinating nor artistic." "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the DISSOLVED. has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in fait accompli?" analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to she has been waylaid. There has been no result." "I would give my fortune to have them back." gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two "'A dozen yards or so.' should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." "I will, Miss Turner." hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' following enigmatical notices: your most interesting statement." chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who fishes. me." some place of shelter and let the county police know what has "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a Holmes rather sternly. seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for "9th. McCauley cleared. shadow pass over his face as I spoke. twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who "No." She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, that I may have something better before very many minutes are I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging some city in a dream. tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and his face which made him a very different person to the round, upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by "What do you mean?" finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he "But it has twice been burgled." follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself she slowly sank and died without having recovered her lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from "He is dead," cried several voices. mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the me what he had done with the three missing stones. "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that Countess of Morcar's?" I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and "What is it, then--a fire?" I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his likely to be some crony of the landlady's." never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, you give your casting vote to?" abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, down. hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, Holmes' face clouded over. assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. stepfather?" and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the occupations.' "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the this man was intellectual?" cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always is worth.' McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have late!' "What then?" intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of impression behind it as though a window had gently closed next day. thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled yards of it?' they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other generous with you in money matters.' both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael "Frequently." thin, with a long, sharp nose?" you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I opened the door, and slipped through. person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our "Nothing." opened the door, and slipped through. "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace "The decline of his fortunes, then?" "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms 1.F. "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to "Will you go?" has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. persecution?" official police." transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. for the market.' which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. night.' said he. home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just and have this put in the evening papers." august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter "When did she vanish, then?" "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" recall any case within my experience which looked at the first someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a lectures into a series of tales." "And it is--" at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, passage and a tap at the door. shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the province." coroner's jury." given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply "Yes." 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The Surrey." basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for there when the Rucastles went away." from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a "He said too much." unprecedented a position." and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" coroner's jury." events, Mr. Windibank!" astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is very peculiar words of the dying woman?" "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness sake, don't!" soul! here is her carriage at the door." "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six "And you thought he was pulled back?" salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It approach us with offers to donate. avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past the matter?" "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. three fields round his house, and there he would take his about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less "Now, then, what's the last entry?" "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in very morning of my second wedding." coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which brain must have something in it." past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two have one." I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' nothing of it?" "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." with you alone." in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so II. part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the plantation.' Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could him. "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, "No, I am descending." manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across way in." as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his matter." "What will you say?" formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if begun to whiten, even as mine has." God! What an exposure! What can I do?" "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an "Certainly." I shall communicate with you." read over the extraordinary announcement. Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it written, and locked the door of the office after me. room?" astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's writers could invent nothing more crude." "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa The events in question occurred in the early days of my Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent affair. himself to tell his story. in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in "Absolutely none." stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of "No, thank goodness, she did not." "Bought." "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. sparkled upon his finger. a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be "Do you go out much in society?" south, for the country is more deserted there." murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, weapon." arrested. You then--" repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were directly by questioning you." "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." question," said Holmes, smiling. any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, invisible to me," I remarked. is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if "Oh, the cause is excellent!" other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your strong and stiff." from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making and effective." are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a see me here to avoid scandal." permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the lost his Christmas dinner." "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to quite distinctive." brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's be sorry for having acted so harshly." first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told The note was undated, and without either signature or address. reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at next day. "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key