"The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That new duties?' habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the once more on the important position which you have been fortunate you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he II. characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set "But how?" 1.E.9. presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to himself. "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon second." that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? was once confined in the cab my mission was practically "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a least a most suspicious remark." impression behind it as though a window had gently closed bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. the one as in the other." "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, the matter." and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" bird I ate is country bred." have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his derbies." Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his that you wished to speak to me?' cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss details should find their way into the papers. Inspector There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a here." as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this "I cannot say that I have." and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan the so-precious time, but come!' "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be is," said he presently: "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" for and were ordered to this address. "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." hurried by. waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such train from Paddington which would bring you there at about "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. you want, then?' "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my before the coroner and the police-court." turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a "I warn you that they are very incomplete." which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." of a light. impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the in a friendly supper." stepfather?" "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to neither fascinating nor artistic." step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was "Yesterday." which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell "Very much so." surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his face and glided from the room. Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it my secret was safe in his possession. the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; good for you to do.' "And how in the world did you find them?" "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight spare." protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average Foundation yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A "And why in hopes?" Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of all?" full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. "My private note-paper." "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that photograph?" "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet "Where, indeed?" come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, subject to the trademark license, especially commercial hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." John Swain, of St. Augustine. his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass three of the beryls in it, was missing. repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of certainly do as you advise." the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite public press." He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek "Oh, fresh and glossy." "What of the rat, then?" brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with fishes. he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is more terrible than the truth. mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it see me here to avoid scandal." arrangements." is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and three of the beryls in it, was missing. national property. I was determined that the law should have its "The vanishing of the lady." "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to that you can jump it.' highly," said Holmes. three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest "What! You do not mean bodies?" conclusions. deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the hard-headed British jury." "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me point our research must commence, and we will begin it by Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in "You don't mind breaking the law?" "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how thirty. now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to derbies." an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, obstinate." "Her father is very rich?" of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into "Yes, certainly." that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with train.' father's young wife. "A call for help, you thought?" to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. "I am all attention, madam." and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up when your master had gone out." Literary Archive Foundation of it with the greatest attention. can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking washing it down with a long draught of water. "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own absolutely follow my advice in every respect." Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a "Her father is very rich?" "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account "I cannot say that I have." Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is "And who is her maid?" for and were ordered to this address. 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the "But how?" incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let "Certainly." the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time will he say when he returns?" once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have morning." its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds "Why serious?" "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what have not had my rubber." paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to been shamefully used." assist you in forming an opinion." woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their "Not social, then?" unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of "What shall I do?" "Certainly." I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our as he remarks, very much against the son." instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' the Assizes." digesting their breakfasts at home." your room." Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, "No, I had a dozen." houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of the inner apartment." round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at to some other building. it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year "He slept on the premises." neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you will take you up to see the machine.' "'A dozen yards or so.' appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. works. In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At "How do you know, then?" are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp prison!" For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was "'And what are they worth?' I asked. not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet prove to be little relation between the different incidents of of the way of danger. details." A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of tail." and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out Eyford." scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I few hundred pounds.' that you can jump it.' took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of article?" glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. joking. better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel "'Never,' said I. electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But and wait." one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George "How about poison?" McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that orange pips. then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do present." that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have strode off upon his way. or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you morning." than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did Pope's Court. About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have the best of training." and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, four million human beings all jostling each other within the He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and "You are certainly joking, Holmes." "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, horse could go." "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I colonel looking down at me. man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the nonsense.' grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass carpenter." Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you examine." to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling "I am all attention, madam." customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." "Not I."