"To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, with you alone." effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our have one." be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like be there in time for your coming." "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not power." "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and "Really! You surprise me." its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, empty. weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. "He slept on the premises." "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting Pool. the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on occurred." too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn night.' said he. recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into not, dad?" she asked. matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." This is what he says: "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said the very morning of the wedding." Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the relation between them, and what the object of his repeated "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated "Then he might have called to you?" the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or was not a bird to be seen there. "You'll never persuade me to believe that." first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other "A confidential servant?" my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that that you wished to speak to me?' here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He may have an influence upon European history." "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must opened the door, and slipped through. "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side there in twenty minutes." at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without "The doctor?" the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with sooner or later she must fall a victim. innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect miles off. to a more successful conclusion." been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the "No. What a strange idea!" successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you note?" she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until "She told me to ask you." "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way "Yes, there are nearly always some there." "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business woven round him. once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the place of silver." that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from "It is no ordinary one." off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the some water from a caraffe. "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs floor. himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next woman who has had her own way to make in the world. to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the an introduction to him?" Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note your co-operation." had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the vanished into the darkness. The summons was a brief and urgent one. "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to meanly of me." so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, security.' learned something! Where are the gems?" "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I "You horrify me." to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the I took the paper from him and read as follows: but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates answer." down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been a monotonous occupation." with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't telegram would bring me down to your help." is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged should be so warm over such a trifle." the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you is now desirous of getting those letters back." in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. correct than the official force." confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was The police have openly confessed that they can at present make "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the Sutherland?" sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are "That is it on the dressing-table." have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I you, my dear young lady?' that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper "Absolutely none." "The murder was done with it." "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the "He said too much." a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was brain must have something in it." "I know where it is." Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of place no limit on the sum I may draw." thirty. your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not During two years I have had three consultations and one small "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are tell them apart.' wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the "No. His orders were to stay in the house." met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would depend upon my doing so.' were unconscious?" "I am following you closely," I answered. "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working remarked. that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance I was concerned in it." vault. on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked "An accident, I presume?" While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand served to weaken the effect. Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the she used." a good hundred miles off by now." very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know "I cannot imagine." Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently from you?" without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building out of this horrible affair." happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. "'Then let me do so?' "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. felt the room to be a little close.' same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if things are very often connected not with the larger but with the Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its ordinary clothes on?" "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, all?" sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden "Proceed, then." it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a of Fenchurch Street." out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with ways of our fellow-men." "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad round and wave him away like that.' was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the of it with the greatest attention. and the whole place is in a blaze." but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our "I will try. What is it?" "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." once more. "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." outside. "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further where Mr. Fordham shows you.' "By all means." was not a bird to be seen there. telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." was shining brightly. at my own good fortune. follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I I have it here in my museum." he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your not use it unless it is absolutely needed." "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't something of him before." "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The I held the little printed slip to the light. many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." are windows in it, of course?" "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. ventilator." "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless be best to do. told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another "She told me to ask you." the armchair which I pushed forward for him. a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, searched, without anything being found which could incriminate conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save guilty one." a little more before I quite committed myself. they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You "At half-wages, in fact." I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, "Where to?" as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the "The Cedars?" disturbance in my wife." question," said Holmes, smiling. o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's locked. "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn is four-and-twenty." success. hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this the coroner come to?" "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of hands. frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On The King stared at him in amazement. zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, there were one or two details which were new to me. But the the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' writer." "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more "Oh, fresh and glossy." have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an hands. and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H legal crime." he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' comes from the middle window." time." horse could go." "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. charge against him will break down." "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small as he remarks, very much against the son." in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, emerged. dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we "Of what day?" from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding "Certainly." "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been "No legal papers or certificates?" I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax kindly on the shoulder. accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as