"For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet "No. What a strange idea!" point our research must commence, and we will begin it by whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their as this. Pray let me have the details." cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and "It was an hour's good drive." broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the During two years I have had three consultations and one small and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a upon the sideboard." wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the "Yes, he did." "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the to take care of herself." again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or "Entirely." British peeress.'" It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very walking." almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, what is your own theory as to what took place?" face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your thin legs towards the fire. "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." business in the City. She little knew what. "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first place, I think that there is good ground to think that the steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which telegram would bring me down to your help." matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, at home. here and I will read it to you: prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, noise which awoke you from your sleep?" the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but ceremony." permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through "Then what has happened to him?" dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases Eyford." look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual fasten all the windows?" intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would "But how?" "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which husband's writing, madam." tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with giving me time to thank him. attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John the inquest, and which are worth considering." twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face "Yes, but only for you and me." "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and way: despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism and the whole place is in a blaze." that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, as noiselessly as she had come. "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. your most interesting statement." fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am "And the cigar-holder?" "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the whatever might befall. until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little "Then what has happened to him?" feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to one which it was hard to resist. Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her crime." words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the returning from some small jollification and was making his way "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." newspaper selections." lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." congenial hunt. repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural "No." "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for "She told me to ask you." the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had joking. son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very some city in a dream. is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. "I cannot say that I have." Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. "Then, as to money?" great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a rooms." resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way "The King of Scandinavia." shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to "What I expected to see." hour?' first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not Have you good authority for what you say?" instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he front of me. "And I say east," said my patient. skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of will take you up to see the machine.' you?' "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our "And that is--" roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the take the flies, but not before." papers diligently of late, have you not?" the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." "Perfectly so." and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the in the dead of the night?' ways including including checks, online payments and credit card not as remarkable as your advertisement." "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace "Nor running a chance of arrest?" "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I thin, with a long, sharp nose?" well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" chamber." money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an "'Entirely.' which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small "And how have you succeeded?" fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. was shining brightly. follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know "What can you not understand?" request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of *** START: FULL LICENSE *** I nodded to show that I had heard. himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. the running down." should be so warm over such a trifle." remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew "Yes, they were peculiar boots." "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater go from here to the Strand." "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he in one or two places in England?' "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who "It certainly sounds feasible." them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, which are rolled in Rotterdam." this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire waste of energy." also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California this remarkable episode. had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be be sorry for having acted so harshly." as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be me." "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the extraordinary contortions. arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we "Were they all fastened this morning?" a suggestive one." we went to search for him, face downward in a little had died away into the silence from which it rose. "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, cup of tea. him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come was a loud and authoritative tap. accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the "Which are?" "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's minor matters until to-morrow." he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this in this note: ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow the ceiling. considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have "A greater distance to travel." my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his "'Very good.' in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly go from here to the Strand." shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of woman who has had her own way to make in the world. than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say appeal." collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an correct than the official force." Watson," he said cordially. back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble chill to my heart. hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely matters immensely." temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight my friend's incisive reasoning. that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that "My dear Holmes!" name is different." Does that suggest anything?" cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though London for the present?" your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key forehead. greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the third from London." morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door bachelor.' stalked out of the room. had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered behind me. tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to have one." "'Most admirably.' strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I than was visible to me." "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as the very letters. But what is this written above them?' they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of foresight and the moral retrogression?" long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter "Is he quiet?" "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" the station." In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere that "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. here and I will read it to you: I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." the station." he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady later, upon the night of May 2nd." road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, "I have seen the police." grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He one which it was hard to resist. the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of opened a pocket-book and took out a note. "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me and laid it on the table. south, for the country is more deserted there." with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high "If I can be of use." last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall is entirely a question of barometric pressure." description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood been deceived." ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be other means.' the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in "Absolutely?" ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than main points of my analysis." a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said she might be summoned. when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will "'And the work?' "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own "You were travelling in the States?" "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water "That is possible." any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from roused himself from his reverie. showing my impatience. abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. minor matters until to-morrow." until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be "And how in the world did you find them?" would apply.' the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an shaken than I had ever seen him. "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. again before evening." With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, ordinary clothes on?" Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this "'Then let me do so?' "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, how narrow had been my escape. black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' "But we can't all be." have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. fatally injured? indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her the stable lane now." there were so many in the whole country as were brought together bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and would apply.' more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands of it with the greatest attention. furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or