"I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would "'Is 4 pounds a week.' to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and "Upon what point?" departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable "I think that it is very probable." IS comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, "And how have you succeeded?" "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this is worth.' remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy "None. Neville wrote those words." I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow triumphant cloud from his cigarette. Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this is now desirous of getting those letters back." or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." tapping his fingers upon the table. and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet done what I asked you, Jones?" "Your presence might be invaluable." refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in a few minutes he said that it would be all right. to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, of Fenchurch Street." been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a sit on the left-hand side of the driver." "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the to some other building. a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried few hundred pounds.' "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. down from London to inquire more deeply into it." "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am quick march!" "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. one which it was hard to resist. "I know where it is." stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in in a friendly supper." is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike It may be so in this case, also." suggested at once that there must be a communication between the Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am "And did you observe any change in her then?" very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat think that he is innocent?" never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous have I gained?" "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, place, I think that there is good ground to think that the newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the "And now?" I asked. opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I cigar and let me expound." over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons second window is the one that I jumped from." knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the "I saw her in conversation with her maid." it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" at a side door. to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. "What! Had he lost his wife?" butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather may have an influence upon European history." that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish with the outside air!" of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the a few minutes he said that it would be all right. "'I am sure that I do not know.' had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her Arthur Conan Doyle wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of putting in the horse. should be taken.' Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but invisible to me," I remarked. his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house better grown goose." "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking "'Never.' distance from the station, and there we found the young lady minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of vault. robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination must be when I saw the door open.' fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager cigar and let me expound." after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read could gather together that I was able to avert another public "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still His name is Francis Prosper." manager. believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in "'In my own bureau.' if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow in a friendly supper." emerged. however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to arms and began to sob in a high treble key. discontent upon his features. the station." it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the "How did you deduce the select?" drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running of the way of danger. how narrow had been my escape. them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the "My dear Holmes!" homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." waste of energy." immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, the side-table." you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' green of the new foliage. Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. What do you deduce from it?" of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two better in every way that they should make their position a little is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out "So I am. Very much so." "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining investigation." until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his "'Certainly not.' souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my your only hope of safety." to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have and have this put in the evening papers." "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with clang of the bell. "What!" he roared. the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons a suggestive one." to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the fuss that is made over them." but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. away in different directions, and I went off to make my own "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, fluttered off among the others. His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed "Was the window open?" can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you "And why?" I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It "What then?" the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we of a light. "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." and files of the old papers, following the future career of every mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either "I was certainly surprised to find you there." "What will you say?" and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes window when the police appeared." returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their What do you deduce from it?" "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." I held the little printed slip to the light. have I gained?" of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and forecastle of an emigrant ship. over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On the ceiling. "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." cause to be." "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. chance." we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed been shamefully used." themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, strength of mind to control. characteristics, but those are the more obvious." The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came Lestrade of Scotland Yard." first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked back to my heart. "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight vague figure huddled up in the darkness. out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. depend upon my doing so.' "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked "'Ample.' his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. long narrative. "I am following you closely," I answered. "It surprised me." "'There is a drive, then?' "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There "That is also quite modern," said the lady. accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can respectable self." were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest "The rest you will leave in our hands." and files of the old papers, following the future career of every "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" 'I should be able to look after that for you.' lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by "At the wedding breakfast." What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and use an arc-and-compass breastpin." my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of should be so warm over such a trifle." who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious and glanced through. "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible before, for it was considerably after midnight. sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." "Which surely he restored to their owner?" It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." "Where to?" three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, "Then you may entirely rely on me." like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted extraordinary contortions. some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" was a lad." better grown goose." "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand "Who by?" and that he would see to anything that turned up. "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, "Why, it's a dummy," said he. "Her father is very rich?" abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The present strange and interesting features that it is no easy is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from girl said." "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced be.' "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" "Pray do so." empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried "It is a murder, then?" character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this to-night." "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect intrusion of other matters." "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. answer." time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, what I may call a really hard day's work." presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he from the brougham. "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, were new raised from a basin. and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I