"A client, then?" clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? chance at all." Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent remarked. once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at which was all perfectly true. seven miles from Eyford Station.' "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt later, upon the night of May 2nd." hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your vague figure huddled up in the darkness. me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my "How did that help you?" with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which to his chemical studies. "'I shall certainly be there.' Miss Holder?" in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that "The Cedars?" consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from "Tired-looking or fresh?" than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular the bed, and you in that chair." he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding always that they were such commands as a lady might with Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding "You have but to name it." "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always wedding?" saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." Pope's Court. Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel "But his left-handedness." was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all "Well?" laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me said he. a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my quickly through a disagreeable task. years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. now. It seems that there had been some informality about their Lestrade of Scotland Yard." broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided distance from the station, and there we found the young lady dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. she has been waylaid. There has been no result." madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." rose-bushes. take the flies, but not before." "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by "Yes." suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I "I saw her in conversation with her maid." detained." wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his bonnet, and went out." a good hundred miles off by now." me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of "I am about to be married." arrested. You then--" jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the bedroom door." wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." "Not particularly." laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There him, that man would not have given me such complete information conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two writers could invent nothing more crude." months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. Holmes." "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and have an American origin." "Because he was handy and would come cheap." shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from "And for present expenses?" "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want "Nearly eleven." and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the here." friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. the very morning of the wedding." clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." "And the murderer?" our word." Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into felt?" "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out "But how did you gain them?" into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My "Has he come with you to-night?" "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a was a perfect sample of the class. Farm upon the left." If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly "And Miss Sutherland?" The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that "'A dozen yards or so.' He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where laugh and put his lips to my ear. "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to "'As governess?' tightly behind him. scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she writers could invent nothing more crude." I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that and the colonel ushered me in. "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the seem to you to be relevant or not." "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of shall use the carriage to-night." way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. the Red-headed League." ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, simple cases which are so extremely difficult." kindly on the shoulder. years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to "BALLARAT." bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling beyond words. "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' you want, then?' advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. your room." "Where is it, then?" "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and vague figure huddled up in the darkness. "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There footfalls from the street. IS a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached "I see no marks." the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening stepfather?" 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be redistribution. "But who is he?" homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a plantation.' grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass my special province." America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a "It is half-past ten now." about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. "Oh, the cause is excellent!" "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and should be so warm over such a trifle." bears upon the case?" woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An DAMAGE. doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. both be extremely obliged.' that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point that threaten you." "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." fattened it expressly for you.' nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" "And help." papers." "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my passage and a tap at the door. had no one to advise her at such a crisis." legal crime." might have a private word with us. the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with Holmes' room. are, I think, all that we need." buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the three of the beryls in it, was missing. sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, "He is still with you, I presume?" male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the papers on the sundial.'" been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of clang of the bell. ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect "It is possible." "What then?" her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. observed. a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed hands. relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in my little problems." the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent nothing of it?" me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told "And how did you find out?" send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the "You were travelling in the States?" fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said it means?" turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my Clair, of Lee." only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. swore that no one else had been in the front room during the office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It address. "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was "One?" music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But "Did your wife hear all this?" knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could showing my impatience. get the tickets." you?" springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, enter into my head. them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and "Here?" several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. 'please.'" "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' beg that you will break it off." "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair Holmes' thin, eager face. would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair of the way of danger. bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower "'I have already given you my word.' "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to "'Is purely nominal.' the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have of campaign. was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which had died away into the silence from which it rose. foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and burst into a hearty fit of laughter. and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss "May I see it?" felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a "I have solved it." wanted for ourselves." salesman. "'It is locked up,' I answered. stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, singular points about the case. What did the police think of the "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never "Come in!" said he. I nodded to show that I had heard. our word." could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a "Who by?" his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, of the vacancies.' all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he once more on the important position which you have been fortunate conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. conclusions. three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' "You have it, sir, just as it happened." years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." pity, because in other respects you would really have done very house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon was a loud and authoritative tap. "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of "'Ample.' Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" "And Miss Sutherland?" stepfather?" seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan papers on the sundial.'" to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which "And Irene Adler?" highly," said Holmes. hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of matters immensely." sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the think you a quite exceptional woman." "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us golden eyeglasses. 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of "My private note-paper." worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their again." for securing the situation." did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some the child." "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." where we are going." strode off upon his way. in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all McCarthy's innocence. blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the "'Is 4 pounds a week.' "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own "Did you become engaged then?" January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep "What, then?" "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he For additional contact information: