horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body "My stepfather's business papers." the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered sentimental considerations in the background which would induce rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the business?" to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." throat." you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into his grey eyes. "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to page at http://pglaf.org depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said furiously. Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" "So it appears." young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. outsides of the windows. very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker Mrs. Toller serenely. my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of "'And the work?' Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. over his head with a sweet womanly caress. observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for "What then?" a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the father's young wife. Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. away into the river." Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I "Yes, all." Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I even of instruction." "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from "Did you observe the colour?" helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When to me. I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he directly by questioning you." may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant weary and pale-looking. nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a to you." some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the her also." "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." "Here?" exactly what you advise." Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You bell. Holmes whistled. compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do sake, don't!" "But he might be a bachelor." shag which I had seen upon the previous night. iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing was feeling which was the fattest.' grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at these bleak autumnal evenings." Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any know what is wrong with it.' had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to "I was afraid that you were engaged." the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had she might be summoned. clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one any little problem which you may submit to me." daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. as he remarks, very much against the son." Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her constraint." pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, way: "In what way?" asked Holmes. "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was plantation.' then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: "I cannot tell." off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. "I should like to see him very much." "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had "Ten will be early enough." "None. Neville wrote those words." "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and "And I say east," said my patient. not interfere, come what may. You understand?" he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger existence." overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from "May I see it?" minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let "I would give my fortune to have them back." traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted putting in the horse. is four-and-twenty." good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line address. thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened "But how did you gain them?" hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. particular state visit http://pglaf.org a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project "The knees of his trousers." Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" the little opening for the ventilator is." you." get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I "We have tried and failed." metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the "It is very clear." round with crates and massive boxes. at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common prisoner's face. long narrative. submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. "That is also quite modern," said the lady. flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the 1.F. it." and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be "Yes." knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, her also." postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to this poor creature." to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely eavesdroppers?' season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I looking up at the numbers of the houses." "I don't say that. Perhaps." had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of handed it to him. "And how did he make his money?" hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. outsides of the windows. not personally threatened." any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect have got?" carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; strength." stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is "What! Had he lost his wife?" "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who indeed which he could not unravel. Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now "You are all wrong." "No." "But the mystery?" Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to "Can I be of assistance?" the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in morning." exactly what you advise." As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, know what is wrong with it.' You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand wedding?" "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag since then to throw any light upon what became of him." lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the minor matters until to-morrow." face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect horse could go." which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him girl said." And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the province." experiences." eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the Dr. Gregory B. Newby the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a chair. leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy sentimental considerations in the background which would induce morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. sneer upon his pale face. have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal "I will get her to show me." "You are all wrong." more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. it." reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook him. promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; opened the door, and slipped through. away into the river." lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of maid will bring up your coffee." that?' as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss "Yes, I have one waiting." - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any had no one to advise her at such a crisis." way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the "My Mary? Impossible!" "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he think you a quite exceptional woman." 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be directors have had misgivings upon the subject." inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." weigh very heavily upon my conscience." "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had his fortune, and I went back to pa. paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it You can understand that this register and diary may implicate before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get bedroom door." "I warn you that they are very incomplete." "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. you want, then?' and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting arrested. You then--" giving me time to thank him. conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly to-night?" I asked. a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." "Was he the only applicant?" understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to "Yes, certainly." "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no "Pray do so." Watson," he said cordially. endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive young Openshaw's." "That was it, sir." the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, prisoner's face. Serpentine Avenue. now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. waste of energy." "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. Miss Holder?" "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw fled together." which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see friend's singular character. narrative." charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so "No." he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' this remarkable episode. anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck "No, thank goodness, she did not." completely overtopped every other consideration that we both discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet little adventures." at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. thought that she would have been so carried away." "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his Eyford." "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father have not had my rubber." "What is it?" eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is