impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well my friend's incisive reasoning. managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose place of silver." His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There residence of the great financier. to have that photograph." prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid "What of the rat, then?" of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the hurried by. places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose as he folded up the epistle. your billet.' the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune weigh very heavily upon my conscience." "I cannot as yet see any connection." plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very I was concerned in it." DISSOLVED. down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote "And why in hopes?" I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark "It was a confession," I ejaculated. "I know where it is." broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body best detective that ever lived. should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as always that they were such commands as a lady might with "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and the coroner come to?" time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. carpenter." instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may observed. Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve "You'll never persuade me to believe that." fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the I shall continue with my miserable story. mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he to-night's adventure." still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, vague figure huddled up in the darkness. and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in "Nearly eleven." think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching "I will do it." a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, nonsense.' moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would and have this put in the evening papers." "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted "So it appears." quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin "'What then?' I asked. trifles." his eyes and forehead. "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both "Come in!" said Holmes. Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to "No bad?" have been better. It is all right." the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the "Ample." office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then dead, shall be safe with us." "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. throat." which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of "Very truly yours, passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." sound at heart." than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. very morning of my second wedding." coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round questioning and rather startled gaze. Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great "This concluded the examination of the witness." "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that cup of tea. "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' have had none more fantastic than this." "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been "And what did you see?" determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the "The decline of his fortunes, then?" "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly "But not more so than I to find you." pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up "So I am. Very much so." breakfast and whispered something to her husband. it right.' "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project generous with you in money matters.' cost them two and thirty pounds." goes." through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young way: "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which in the port of London." of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of "You have the photograph?" disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another "Have you her photograph?" "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name "How often?" there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his I. determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the cigars in the box." Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a without a word or a look. fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man "Why, it's a dummy," said he. "Nothing." must compliment you." trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. rat could hardly pass through." "We have tried and failed." place, I think that there is good ground to think that the didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't posted to-day." the Assizes." smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little "It was an hour's good drive." "I cannot tell." was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, bonnet, and went out." woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I begin with, and I had not got mine yet." "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at "'What are you doing there?' he asked. lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a "I think that I had better go, Holmes." therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine stalked out of the room. What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could crime. before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. "I am following you closely," I answered. the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about kind enough to tell me what I should do." from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp once more on the important position which you have been fortunate into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I "We must sit without light. He would see it through the to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. footfalls from the street. all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted woven round him. of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six call for it in person on Monday morning.' 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do this truth that in these little records of our cases which you "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in "And it is--" "She told me to ask you." seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to affection." harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity rose-bushes. "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint 1.E.9. precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as everything which you would wish to know." mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother are, and they are waiting for us." himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, some city in a dream. "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of "Proceed, then." "No. His orders were to stay in the house." "'Stolen!' he cried. look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main locked." "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this annoyance, but no jest. country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being had formerly been in part my own. them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land upon the sideboard." a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had writer." there were one or two details which were new to me. But the My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is be.' sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a means taking possession of that which another person has a prior British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the "The decline of his fortunes, then?" here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the "Oh, the cause is excellent!" "I know where it is." There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his prison!" and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, which it had come upon my father." on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving "Your sister is dead, then?" man. a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence it right.' America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. are, and they are waiting for us." particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of know what is wrong with it.' made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations crime." wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not call for it in person on Monday morning.' it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, dear old homesteads?" on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the You can understand that this register and diary may implicate "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, "'Not at all. I only doubt--' my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken "Was there a secret marriage?" hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in "How did he come?" The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind "Not in a good cause." distance from the station, and there we found the young lady once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the golden eyeglasses. "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by "But she could not love him." elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, would then never go into court at all." "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was Young McCarthy must be got off, however." have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the cheerful." inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all clang of the bell. this remarkable episode. which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each present." deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his "I have solved it." year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the my friend's incisive reasoning. Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, occupations.' back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little him." the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There had this final quarrel? imbecility!" he cried. which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we Holmes rather sternly. gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of him, that man would not have given me such complete information of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his "On Monday." determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both floor. "At the wedding breakfast." time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had down in his armchair and closing his eyes. hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting "I have seen the police." platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's question you as to those details which seem to me to be most "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" on in his house." "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. six. Come in!" produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a him, that man would not have given me such complete information instincts rose up against that laugh. it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. 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