as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the happened." as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in Pope's Court. had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than Street. the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret investigation." of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the wife's character?" expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, that I may have something better before very many minutes are Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, country, and eventually married, without anyone having a explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and woman." waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, 11:15.' misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." written. prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight throat." true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof "No, my brougham is waiting." "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any works. See paragraph 1.E below. "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. affair. "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. corner of the building. respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the too. stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. questioning and rather startled gaze. Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very "'Certainly not. But why?' "What will you do, then?" the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. said he. would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four "'Certainly not. But why?' "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face "Thank you. And your address?" sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour that you saw all that I did." that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am in your London, you will know that the office of the company is was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is she to prove their authenticity?" law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And already referred to. the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works "Why? What do you mean?" about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San jewels which you have stolen?' "You have but to name it." loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now You want to know what became of those geese?" of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside house for five minutes.' assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not subject to the trademark license, especially commercial the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a could not account in any way for the presence of the missing "Certainly." determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the fashion which was peculiar to him. "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, "Well, but China?" suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the "That is unusual in a young girl." fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can "I warn you that they are very incomplete." that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between matter over." started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in was it brought him the coronet? handed it to him. Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings unclasping of his long thin hands. disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling "Upon what point?" "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now intrusion of other matters." came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed photograph?" and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and business." "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my "But his left-handedness." that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I "And what did you see?" room had already been engaged for us. it? Did I buy the geese off you?" "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help there in twenty minutes." have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, some water from a caraffe. "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of Serpentine Avenue. out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she is so. I know all about McCarthy." "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, 1.F. "'How far from the body?' Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally him nearly every evening." knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he delighted to hear it," he said. hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you strong reason behind." least a fellow-countryman. tassel actually lying upon the pillow. lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was wedding?" "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some "That's no good." "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which "Stolen." and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a brain must have something in it." crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and vanished into the darkness. Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the noting anything else of interest. prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a the devil!" With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." "You have but to name it." that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." "A thing like a cleaver," said he. Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the will take you up to see the machine.' Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it http://gutenberg.net/license). side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a not, dad?" she asked. It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." "Ah!" no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, "Upon what point?" Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms wife's character?" will find little credit to be gained out of this case." from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you this truth that in these little records of our cases which you its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I "Come in!" said he. dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his tied." Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back whether it answered to the description of any of their I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a back into the street. firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple narrative." for and were ordered to this address. "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very never will be, entirely cleared up. Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten it. "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my nonsense.' hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after congenial hunt. license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure "'Very good.' train from Paddington which would bring you there at about "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with "And did you observe any change in her then?" delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a if I call to-morrow?" "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. address. A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the to affect your life." and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little the station." wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and such person." "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I face and glided from the room. "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the "Were they all fastened this morning?" would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right footfalls from the street. listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have at home. threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility him. remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, "And the cigar-holder?" located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." to affect your life." "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, my former friend and companion. "Yes, it would be as well." completely overtopped every other consideration that we both without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to "In heaven's name, what for?" would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe "What then?" works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such disappearance of the bride.'" and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which "Yes?" I shall communicate with you." thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always him." any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John but preventing her from injuring another. exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while leaning back in his chair. fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more and put his glass in his pocket. the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. article?" call for protection in the marriage market, for the present interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to entirely devoid of interest." "Perhaps I have." came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of "But the mystery?" gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, lumber-room." man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across your co-operation." to me. "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public "Do you go out much in society?" sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter since then to throw any light upon what became of him." "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which with you alone." "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never "I cannot as yet see any connection." fish-monger and a tide-waiter." the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as behind me. absolutely follow my advice in every respect." "Very. But will he see it?" because she had spent so short a time in this country that she "In which, sir?" Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the "I am still in the dark." to a more successful conclusion." "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the "Yes, certainly." to arrive at through this?" anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few "None. Neville wrote those words." his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard behind me. of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two redistribution. position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently of." It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough business at Coburg Square is serious." his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." more terrible than the truth. "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you troubles have been weighing upon his mind. subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the "'I am sure that I do not know.' morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at examine." money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be giving me time to thank him. hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or "Indeed! Whose, then?" in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the Leadenhall Street--and--" there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do perplexity from it to my illustrious client. walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very sound at heart."