"Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the make me his representative both with the servants and with the self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. call you and give you the chance." at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his said he, "my real name is James Ryder." mystery may be cleared along those lines." fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I few hundred pounds.' she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the detective. Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine "Do you know him?" I leave." three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is "'Why that?' I asks. faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's that I may have something better before very many minutes are are windows in it, of course?" statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to again before evening." "Certainly." written. father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away instituted." useful material for showing traces. The double line a little did not hear it also.' fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a Young McCarthy must be got off, however." recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to "You heard nothing yourself last night?" whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug "I have my revolver," said I. not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief not fit the lock." to-night." "'Certainly,' I answered. keep the flames under. of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. straightened it out again. shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door ran thus: "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into the general public were present, then?" "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a go back?" of Mr. Rucastle's." come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in "I have come for advice." "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" to change my dress. back alive. grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, "You are certainly joking, Holmes." the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which "Perhaps we may make them less so." with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been mystery may be cleared along those lines." is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander just called myself is not exactly my own." drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt to some other building. clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was leaning back in his chair. dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" vault. "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the his knees, staring into the fire. "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings all-comprehensive glances. it." "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" British peeress.'" "Have you it here?" down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a "But how will you look?" said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the a very grave face. half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the miles off. would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little American. Then who could this American be, and why should he and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? yet." have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch "Where, then, is my wife?" planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one "Then I do not see the point." like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need results." "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were is worth.' age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said McCarthy's innocence. his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had "By no means." helping a boy to put up the shutters. it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." people don't know." the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few The summons was a brief and urgent one. his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. were new raised from a basin. "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But "The landlord of the Alpha." PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in digesting their breakfasts at home." Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." think that he is innocent?" "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, "'Where could I find him?' away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," very morning of my second wedding." means taking possession of that which another person has a prior the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get floor. the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the get the tickets." "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could "To an English lawyer named Norton." "Your presence might be invaluable." One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been shoulder; "he's all right." laugh and put his lips to my ear. facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover What do you deduce from it?" "I answered that I had not. year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really back to my heart. begin with, and I had not got mine yet." "I would pay ten." one else, I think." "I cannot think." accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise "I would pay ten." it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable leaning back in his chair. recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you presume?" Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable your equipment. "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a Dr. Gregory B. Newby enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face "I never have." "Witness: It was. "To the police?" staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To "And that is--" "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good maid will bring up your coffee." had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly tension within him. compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my "None. Neville wrote those words." undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. problems help me to do so." at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the "Was she in good spirits?" some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in "And how did you find out?" a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a some place of shelter and let the county police know what has if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all will be renamed. remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the Sholtos." sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't Pope's Court. burst out into a roar of laughter. it." him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never dramatic, in fact." moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your and glanced through. went to the Alpha were town bred." succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I "I have come for advice." the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. McCarthy's innocence. locked. behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their Chief Executive and Director Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No of a light. been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came meant it for the best. correct than the official force." an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell in the hope of finding them." "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a photograph a cabinet?" "No legal papers or certificates?" ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your politicians who had been sent down from the North. "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it we went to search for him, face downward in a little entirely devoid of interest." firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the our word." He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' we went to search for him, face downward in a little and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could gigantic client. Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us chance at all." "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut "Texas, I think." put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and "Deserted you?" We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was Farm upon the left." shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few his face. Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester were new raised from a basin. "I guessed as much." "Two days later this same performance was gone through under The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the "It certainly sounds feasible." fluttered off among the others. "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as the warnings." the room while you explain this matter?" "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a "Yes." "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one round with crates and massive boxes. bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came my friend's incisive reasoning. without success. At last the little money which I had saved began quickly through a disagreeable task. were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more "And it is--" "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few the stones. from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest a monotonous occupation." "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly without a word or a look. guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. my little problems." "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable "Of what?" the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; it." these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very like that before?" knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss Count Von Kramm." therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. voice. grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of client, rising. column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of followed. arrested. You then--" job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten tell them apart.' the iron safe, which he closed upon it. your sleep?' 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it o'clock is it?" convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he a monotonous occupation." "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in was it brought him the coronet? rooms." change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay keep the flames under. away to you." Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The undoubtedly my uncle's." the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell what do you think they found in the pockets?" therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project over here." "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon.