One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle "No. His orders were to stay in the house." of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I criminal. We have already had experience of such." Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, "What?" tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I "My stepfather's business papers." or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly dates and names. "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can and shall probably return to London by the evening train." she slowly sank and died without having recovered her "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered "Yes." had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was better in every way that they should make their position a little the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at his knees, staring into the fire. and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the "Tired-looking or fresh?" brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the daring than any effort of the imagination." friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the said Mr. Holder. an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us very morning of my second wedding." details should find their way into the papers. Inspector "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the morning." You want to know what became of those geese?" "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the "I will not look." Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification security.' was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is gone. he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the "Where, then?" fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said in darkness. continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask generous with you in money matters.' this poor creature." "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." an introduction to him?" "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could Henry Baker is a member." wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save "Ha! you find it so?" alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to "'Is purely nominal.' way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the have an American origin." long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security "Here?" ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards might have a private word with us. his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge quick march!" rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in "You horrify me!" twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds "An enemy?" with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of be best to do. "'And the work?' something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was "Texas, I think." to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. to a more successful conclusion." of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, may have an influence upon European history." that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of pound a week." back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where felt?" gone before you can get him to hospital." something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to "But what harm can there be in that?" job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. "'Never.' down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the better grown goose." man. "What of the rat, then?" sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall "I was certainly surprised to find you there." entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter just ask you whether you had heard it.' clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the bed dies. Does not that strike you?" "Thank you. And your address?" opportunities to fix the problem. jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me with some details as to your case." like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church "To an end?" "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own use an arc-and-compass breastpin." do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry hands. month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well overpowering excitement and concern. "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My fasten all the windows?" your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give the date of his supposed suicide." separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" key of the affair now." have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and tapping his fingers upon the table. of." ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or "I answered that I had not. of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in me, and I could not think that his explanation of the his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain "Just look it up, then." "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which to surprise her." everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in promised to bring home. English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." "'Never.' the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove client, rising. was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful Pool. the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman crackling voice. to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I persecution?" at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather "They are typewritten," I remarked. at home. recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag business came to an end." controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a on re-entering her father's house?" a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We "By train from Waterloo." deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent back into the street. a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, "Yes." be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and when you have done it." the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for "10th. John Swain cleared. "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and "Texas, I think." dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he been shamefully used." and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' "My private note-paper." "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was persecution?" "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there "I cannot tell." at my own good fortune. "Precisely." "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by delighted to hear it," he said. never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, to go into your room and bar your shutters?" "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." Doctor, of the paper and the date." ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and "Yes." "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot come either from the window or the door. My attention was one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, cigars in their mouths. however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I acted in my house last night?" freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, "It is possible." "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a "And why?" lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My will find little credit to be gained out of this case." wedding?" broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the should be taken.' I was concerned in it." was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since "What, then?" "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; from the brougham. can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he From what you have told me I think that it is possible that "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, "We were both in the photograph." never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had best detective that ever lived. He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City "And how did you find out?" "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." upon a handsome competence. considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down searched, without anything being found which could incriminate your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." four million human beings all jostling each other within the "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" "In what way?" asked Holmes. with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and "Certainly." gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very "No legal papers or certificates?" horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that "Certainly." horse could go." stalked out of the room. never came back." iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding had picked up in the wood. left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed "It is true that I have been generally successful." "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action grasp, he hurried from the room. silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable most interesting one." disappearance of the bride.'" 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party the date of his supposed suicide." that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking "'About the same.' what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your "Where to?" "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope get her out of the way." have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue "I cannot tell." rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and the bed, and you in that chair." light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt impression behind it as though a window had gently closed skylight. than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the "I warn you that they are very incomplete." practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire individual and becomes the badge of a society." sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon as this. Pray let me have the details." her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you Literary Archive Foundation down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I depend upon my doing so.' by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in "The landlord of the Alpha." Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has all?" protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the "On the contrary, this is the right side." however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his must compliment you." was already answered. observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened "You have a clue?" out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his