"What is it, then--a fire?" evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great strength." He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire in this note: not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of infinite languor in his face. have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp His smile broadened. License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." was not a bird to be seen there. possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the "It surprised me." criminal. We have already had experience of such." At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his true." gone. "Witness: It was. answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the "It certainly sounds feasible." pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too to a more successful conclusion." "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me there when the Rucastles went away." of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of had formerly been in part my own. down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." lumber-room." whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public singular points about the case. What did the police think of the "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove "I don't say that. Perhaps." for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I that you can jump it.' "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." "I say it is." "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near his cane at the bell-pull. editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America together. strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to "He disappeared so suddenly." "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a to-night?' The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of of your young ladies.' "Certainly." result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the "How did he come?" was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he "I cannot imagine." seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many then?" the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and success. of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually "Dark enough and sinister enough." the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never "No sign of it?" which are rolled in Rotterdam." dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. Pool. "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his dead, shall be safe with us." he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be fashion which was peculiar to him. have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to maiden herself was most instructive." while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling "On your arm?" utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there more terrible than the truth. brandy and water within his reach. grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached "You heard nothing yourself last night?" "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a could gather together that I was able to avert another public the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a wedding?" little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for some place of shelter and let the county police know what has thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already the south-west, I see." ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." brain must have something in it." when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the "It surprised me." "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which you in yours." "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in that he has suffered." "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there opportunities to fix the problem. large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a is acting for the best. "Always." "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, "About a month then." "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in gone before you can get him to hospital." to-night?" I asked. charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of any." assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the subject to the trademark license, especially commercial at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. developed." well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just make me his representative both with the servants and with the out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with some water from a caraffe. lamp in his hand. for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet "None." outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which Farm upon the left." hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all "Did he not advertise?" "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." rose-bushes. "At half-wages, in fact." "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the Sutherland?" eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest him to be an active member of the medical profession." my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the society." half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, quick march!" hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? to-night?" I asked. "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a very morning of my second wedding." exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are it. "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery "Entirely." open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates weighed down with some great anxiety. have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round you." shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning get the tickets." repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of "Yes." handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for me. You must get home instantly and act." half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive trifles." collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. peculiar to him. say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And into her hand at the door and which lured her within their in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert "No, distinctly professional." on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by questioning and rather startled gaze. "And now?" He raised his hand. "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length prisoner's face. was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to ill-usage at the hands of fortune. and laid it on the table. and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as room. The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were the room while you explain this matter?" Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. "A confidential servant?" of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it "The doctor?" years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover despaired of." lost nothing by them." "My private note-paper." scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' the coronet at all injured?" fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire are, and they are waiting for us." my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased had a long day." you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by was the fact that his father should, according to his account, think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it "I have hopes." room?" some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many if she died from some sudden fright." "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded "How did you trace it, then?" "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear was a loud and authoritative tap. daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried room had already been engaged for us. he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as rose-bushes. "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any Arthur Conan Doyle the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste than to us. bled considerably." "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has room. "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." meant." observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the "I answered that I had not. Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, "'In my own bureau.' those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they the driver. yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called Farm upon the left." "Her father is very rich?" bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his "Very truly yours, "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold this as likely?" employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of take the flies, but not before." room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" already referred to. this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in mystery." by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in in this way: disturbance in my wife." could not have written that. It is the German who is so yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps fish-monger and a tide-waiter." you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 village inn over there?" the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. possible that we could bring him back to her? takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any spare." opportunities to fix the problem. left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the "You will not go there first?" upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can "She will not sell." awaited us upon the table. some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a and shall probably return to London by the evening train." the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, "Texas, I think." Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of "None." any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, your bag." the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." who was a member of your goose club." "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the extraordinary contortions. the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It "The murder was done with it." propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' round and wave him away like that.' reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the points to suicide?" comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been and capable of preserving a secret.' possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, "Pray continue your narrative." so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, secret." pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from you in yours." following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It "At the wedding breakfast." "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you village inn over there?" everything which you would wish to know." foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should appeared upon the scene." "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these