is so. I know all about McCarthy." moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind "Why? What do you mean?" chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, "My stepfather's business papers." "By all means." favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of My friend smiled. "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the see me here to avoid scandal." "Just look it up, then." It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear "What then?" "'And what are they worth?' I asked. quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear had a long day." "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were brought there to personate someone, and the real person is rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, "What!" he roared. rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied "'Not at all. I only doubt--' fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, yet." "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked ventilator." we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the "And how did he make his money?" it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent did not hear it also.' upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the interested in these little problems, and since you are good here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a Literary Archive Foundation or in danger--" humiliation." clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or believe that I should never have any practice at all. Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices reach." accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your down. "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt my secret was safe in his possession. "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we burst out into a roar of laughter. midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were "But the mystery?" aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. "On your arm?" laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San again before evening." one which it was hard to resist. recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of clanging. weigh very heavily upon my conscience." "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn "Yes." "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go "I say it is." afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the "It goes to the housekeeper's room." "Were they all fastened this morning?" My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the "My opinion is in no way altered." dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary "Thank you. Pray proceed." "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying papers." and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most of it with the greatest attention. Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." done what I asked you, Jones?" would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to face and glided from the room. though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is "One of his hands." "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon "Was the window open?" That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the of the vacancies.' "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp "But your client--" the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay intrusion of other matters." Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of there has been an enclosure here!" puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at to-night?' enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. "A thing like a cleaver," said he. go back?" comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest matter over." "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he your most interesting statement." emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then "Yes." mysterious business." Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less "We were both in the photograph." strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to out of this horrible affair." he. which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the chamber." both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his thin legs towards the fire. re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to you for a few hours?" rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black conversation I have gathered that they have been married about but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came "What is it, then--a fire?" "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his "You horrify me!" breakfast." the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were passage and a tap at the door. "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by client, rising. "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a "I say it is." are, and they are waiting for us." discontent upon his features. that the gas is not laid on in his house?" to-morrow." And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the showing my impatience. gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and John Swain, of St. Augustine. eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door where she found matters as described by the last witness. from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." and the colonel ushered me in. written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see must be when I saw the door open.' refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes when your master had gone out." "Then I shall certainly come." more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid because she had spent so short a time in this country that she key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing this as likely?" the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." garden below. "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily "Pray let us have it, for all that." to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect that before taking the final step I should like to submit the confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. that I am arrested." "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried the stable lane now." beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do been shamefully used." never came back." been lifted and conveyed somewhere." now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will that, and I came down." "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." had picked up in the wood. McCarthy's innocence. absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the article?" "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in "'It is locked up,' I answered. down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own with some details as to your case." His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope interested in these little problems, and since you are good few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. my room." You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of make me his representative both with the servants and with the much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was "I was sure that I might rely on you." sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all I am not easy in my mind about them." on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a gbnewby@pglaf.org the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, "Look there!" said he. your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The already been minutely examined." train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I "No legal papers or certificates?" to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. green of the new foliage. about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an learned something! Where are the gems?" bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the "Yes." and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his works. family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but place of silver." it were putty." to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a Gutenberg-tm License. "But his left-handedness." a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned are windows in it, of course?" are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two "Did you become engaged then?" them present such singular features as the strange train of face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I yards of it?' "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil she used." soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of she has been waylaid. There has been no result." thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. man. cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then "Two days later this same performance was gone through under the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was "And your father? Did you tell him?" "I beg pardon." fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had "What then?" "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to careless servant girl?" her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were know all about it," he snarled. remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." his face. and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." "It is true that I have been generally successful." homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said foot. word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No "Ah, but I was recommended to you." play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and putting in the horse. villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, approach us with offers to donate. cigars in the box." investigation." his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to