shag which I had seen upon the previous night. estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I "Indeed! Whose, then?" fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, will be renamed. "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from at a side door. against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to "His face fell immediately. seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I "And what then?" "That also I could fathom." narrative." "Well, some hundreds of times." there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank use an arc-and-compass breastpin." "Of Friday, June 19th." "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured second." "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step place no limit on the sum I may draw." make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. forbidden door. other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which the matter?" "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as "Yes, it was twisted." myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very second." and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four nothing with him." Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with outbreak?" could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several key of the affair now." unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the "And how in the world did you find them?" the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." impression behind it as though a window had gently closed papers must be those that are destroyed.' "You think that he is dead?" was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to "Oh, fresh and glossy." during that time.' present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping fatally injured? retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual "Pray let us have it, for all that." meant." donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate are, I think, all that we need." "Breckinridge is his name." whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose the date of his supposed suicide." extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached the one as in the other." out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before keep the flames under. acquaintance?" "He said too much." to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called flock.' me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love business matters.' that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." laugh and put his lips to my ear. "So it appears." of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, have had none more fantastic than this." to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" the coronet in his hand?" "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, the coronet at all injured?" company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him "Deserted you?" acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of the running down." ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that "'Yes.' round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from "The knees of his trousers." you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small in darkness. commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do you?" and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the "By no means." "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But heavy and sharp instrument." "What will you say?" "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no your equipment. through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the License. You must require such a user to return or "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of Pool. ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly interests were the same as his." "Because he was handy and would come cheap." secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the floor. It may be so in this case, also." "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the "No, finished." have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I populous neighbourhood." light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote approach us with offers to donate. "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. at my own good fortune. over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered chance." Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." thin legs towards the fire. days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, "My opinion is in no way altered." but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich at my own good fortune. go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather "And your father? Did you tell him?" when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a thin legs towards the fire. concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do and shall probably return to London by the evening train." "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few "And what did you see?" some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to manager. step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small became a certainty. with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every guilty parties." week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the fish-monger and a tide-waiter." that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the tear off another piece?' village inn over there?" cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out foresight and the moral retrogression?" had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked "I cannot imagine." "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could flock.' paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the "I was mad--insane." That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he new acquaintance to Baker Street. "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been the running down." saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in next day. crackling voice. walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to pound a week." Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, depend upon my doing so.' "But not more so than I to find you." John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, morning." there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a spare." to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked threw himself down with his face to the pillow. He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire had no one to advise her at such a crisis." the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle ordinary clothes on?" connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is "And how in the world did you find them?" window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite "It is very clear." "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, "What, then?" a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor the stones. when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough other means.' creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." http://www.gutenberg.net new duties?' straightened it out again. "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual ago." you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my persecution?" side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone are, I think, all that we need." "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father "'What, the red-headed man?' whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless as noiselessly as she had come. that, and I came down." His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm said Mr. Holder. passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated "Get out!" said he. gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's business?" cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove conversation I have gathered that they have been married about Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than "A confidential servant?" it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must just called myself is not exactly my own." as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love my special province." the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near night.' said he. "The rest you will leave in our hands." thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, http://www.gutenberg.net fishes. intrusion of other matters." lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is of campaign. The events in question occurred in the early days of my "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and telegram would bring me down to your help." "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." asked. "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. Holmes' face clouded over. "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in directors have had misgivings upon the subject." was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, figure." see a sister of mine apply for." on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a a monotonous occupation." It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. III. given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with "One horse?" interjected Holmes. "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very "An accident, I presume?" Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." "'No, I know no one in these parts.' taking in every detail of the apartment. wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" "'Where could I find him?' discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then "They are typewritten," I remarked. but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done "This concluded the examination of the witness." He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler "Very murderous indeed." don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office Project Gutenberg-tm works. the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is such attractions and accomplishments?' connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I call you and give you the chance." ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into along the entire front of the house, with three long windows trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." do.' "'Ten to two.' You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found union?" police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first "In San Francisco, a year ago." o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, "But your client--" graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." fluttered off among the others. "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may call it cruel." of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?"