week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no to have that photograph." "I am still in the dark." my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a "I should be immensely obliged to you." think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen them, and came down just as you departed. shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out little trying to do so much typewriting?" was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt "But who is he?" customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, beyond words. me where it went to?" had formerly been in part my own. "The Coroner: What do you mean? other, as fresh and trim as possible. to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated "It was a confession," I ejaculated. "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I "What is it?" "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm "Never." same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked "Two days later this same performance was gone through under common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all that you can jump it.' face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as friend's singular character. will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and "Absolutely none." eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than client, rising. come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at "I should wish to." International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin lost nothing by them." I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon wedding?" suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of "There are none." "Not yet." morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as not personally threatened." "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which were unconscious?" interested in these little problems, and since you are good away into the river." was a lad." the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered silent! Oh, he will be silent!' "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the "Then, how do you know?" "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, "But the mystery?" "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he "Precisely so. But how--" to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, "What shall I do?" analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk "Dirty?" "And how in the world did you find them?" rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled lectures into a series of tales." have not had my rubber." form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All been with you?" suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" flock.' over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. "The King of Scandinavia." written, and locked the door of the office after me. "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity assist you in forming an opinion." the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an "Proceed, then." "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common disappearance of these gems?" Where does the thing come from?' dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my "He is dead," cried several voices. table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune stepfather?" "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a place, I think that there is good ground to think that the hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman weighed down with some great anxiety. side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in could not account in any way for the presence of the missing "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel "How did you trace it, then?" whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the "You have carte blanche." knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. "Won't it ring?" "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of speckled band?" or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young tell them apart.' gbnewby@pglaf.org seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. against a man in the prime of life?" "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. "Then, as to money?" known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" golden eyeglasses. flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly roused himself from his reverie. heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her the south-west, I see." and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little weighed down with some great anxiety. and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing "Yes, they were peculiar boots." tear off another piece?' papers on the sundial.'" very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of fire. You quite follow me?" description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with mystery may be cleared along those lines." have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, "'What would be the hours?' I asked. "You are all wrong." "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir "Awake, Watson?" he asked. "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I "Nor running a chance of arrest?" the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. "You are certainly joking, Holmes." "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness highly," said Holmes. him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed more solid." phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." You can understand that this register and diary may implicate o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely "Nothing." it with his own hands." I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to what is your own theory as to what took place?" we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time "You horrify me!" drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice the nursery. "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered him, that man would not have given me such complete information stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was "Ha! you find it so?" much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of roused himself from his reverie. "You are hungry," I remarked. I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if strong reason behind." floor. "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but "Ah, but I was recommended to you." was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from "It is no ordinary one." instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my to-night's adventure." 11:15.' in darkness. annoyance, but no jest. ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a photograph a cabinet?" "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and "And help." three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled face and glided from the room. to tell." completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then "The vanishing of the lady." and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power some place of shelter and let the county police know what has Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a Young McCarthy must be got off, however." the general public were present, then?" very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the obstinate." had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the "Proceed, then." was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. with you alone." decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that beyond words. of note-paper. It read in this fashion: some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' out of this horrible affair." and have this put in the evening papers." world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. "I answered that I had not. same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, "I shall most certainly do so." traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly "Not in the least." a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check go back?" I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side shoulder. been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding "When did it break out?" case-book, which he consulted. compunction about shooting them down." Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, the salesman. "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I considering the formidable letters which were received by himself office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, threw himself down with his face to the pillow. public press." similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." business at Coburg Square is serious." there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his will be renamed. hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the the devil!" prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as "Of Friday, June 19th." Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a held up the lantern and gazed about him. it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark suspect him." "My dear Holmes!" which was all perfectly true. "Get out!" said he. out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in south, for the country is more deserted there." expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and clang of the bell. Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for prove to be little relation between the different incidents of are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself "My Mary? Impossible!" "It is possible." presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for "Then you may be so with me." perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not quick march!" by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round entirely lost his self-respect." "Witness: I must still refuse. "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking him and tried to hold him back. of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. most important business. It is probable that he will be away all down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone here." "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard "You heard nothing yourself last night?" as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used "No good news?" "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered "This concluded the examination of the witness." strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of "I came to find a friend." propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their