think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your look upon these things in a different way." "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, new acquaintance to Baker Street. shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of "Perhaps we may make them less so." thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very prisoner's face. We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always The events in question occurred in the early days of my fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted at once, for I have only half an hour." essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards clanging. wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the morning." Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of compunction about shooting them down." platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. have an American origin." Foundation police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get I am not easy in my mind about them." brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with "It was a confession," I ejaculated. Sholtos." "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from down. A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his helping a boy to put up the shutters. "No. What a strange idea!" revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in touch that coronet?' closely." knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a at my remark. lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is copied or distributed: "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and writer." them?" man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the brandy and water within his reach. prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of or other trace. But how on earth--" firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged "'Yes, I promise.' his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the along the entire front of the house, with three long windows returning from some small jollification and was making his way himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely your room." was a perfect sample of the class. after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" chance." "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting generous with you in money matters.' looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to about here speaks of his kindness to him." forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a along the entire front of the house, with three long windows should be taken.' passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible four million human beings all jostling each other within the "How are you getting on?" weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a "'Ample.' them?" "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, "And you don't know his address?" be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs "I think it very unlikely." this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining your Highness to the police-station?" rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could "Just look it up, then." disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' new acquaintance to Baker Street. "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a "My Mary? Impossible!" "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned "'As governess?' sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, death." foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' "But how?" On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save beg that you will break it off." remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it swore that no one else had been in the front room during the strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless vanished into the darkness. went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man "Did your wife hear all this?" d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his him. that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he face and glided from the room. Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a "Not social, then?" "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the through." "How many? I don't know." loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. some terrible trap for her." endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and narrative." could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It "Oh, yes, easily." DAMAGE. not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in "Yes, at the mines." fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are face and glided from the room. bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the his wife has ceased to love him." and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to which are rolled in Rotterdam." my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, tell them apart.' months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who row." it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day keep the flames under. "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done "No legal papers or certificates?" "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked intimate personal affairs in this public manner." this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the if I call to-morrow?" squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass had picked up in the wood. inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp cost them two and thirty pounds." "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For placed his cuttings. against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, prepare for the new role I have to play." "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were was it brought him the coronet? streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. "Seven!" I answered. I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for hour." "But his left-handedness." "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into returned to France?" which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the the coronet at all injured?" being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat your troubles." was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear country, and eventually married, without anyone having a "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and tightly behind him. confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, had died away into the silence from which it rose. the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found you in yours." "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." intrusion of other matters." where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in "And why?" It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not as the one I chose?' sake, don't!" in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the "You are all wrong." "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours "We must sit without light. He would see it through the wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite tassel actually lying upon the pillow. people don't know." been." "Could he throw no light?" card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." to surprise her." His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' conceal it?" '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some her also." home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table drawing your inferences." 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly "How did that help you?" "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible an introduction to him?" the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will imbecility!" he cried. the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already lips." nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six "And from a noble client?" outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I silent! Oh, he will be silent!' "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out tear off another piece?' and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. hurried away. for securing the situation." then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the You want to know what became of those geese?" "No bad?" have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before towards the blaze. fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood detained." goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money the Friday. Was it to be in church?" hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the to where he stood hid behind the curtain. "Witness: It was. dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary with some details as to your case." their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the "I answered that I had not. of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything present strange and interesting features that it is no easy the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah to tackle the facts." "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in "Yes, sir." I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which do.' Chief Executive and Director of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance exactly what you advise." bonnet, and went out." I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and "What do you mean?" way in everything. you do it in twenty minutes!' the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, "No?" sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her "Your French gold?" "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here this remarkable episode. doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this acquaintance?" waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my danger is over." you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of "Yes." "How about poison?" already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the the best of training." was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a his huge brown hands. "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived flock.' the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. disappearance of these gems?" that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me imbecility!" he cried. pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to "No." round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe the loss of it. lumber-room." relation between them, and what the object of his repeated roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded "I will not look." "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless very peculiar words of the dying woman?" tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty feature." her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your garden below. set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness.