"It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the his grey eyes. follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the annoyance, but no jest. see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. showing my impatience. handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a "It is true that I have been generally successful." "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other "Precisely." His smile broadened. learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right "That is also quite modern," said the lady. a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." furiously. electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch "At half-wages, in fact." secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for "But you were on a friendly footing?" and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My "Won't it ring?" "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended "'What would be the hours?' I asked. the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small I think that I could be of assistance to you." to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if "The knees of his trousers." value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody "'In my own bureau.' exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the "Where did he live, then?" "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may know that the truth is known." "Pray let us have it, for all that." "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if salesman. as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue the inquest, and which are worth considering." a little more before I quite committed myself. The note was undated, and without either signature or address. The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I "'Certainly not. But why?' "You have compromised yourself seriously." Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is garden below. Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his me, and I could not think that his explanation of the "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely conversation I have gathered that they have been married about it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in Holmes' face clouded over. the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by grasp, he hurried from the room. is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the could not have written that. It is the German who is so plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil "I shall most certainly do so." We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated "Deserted you?" his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water "'About the same.' band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could matter." beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with she to prove their authenticity?" this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and "What, then, did Peterson do?" "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, shall not find me ungrateful." "He said that you could solve anything." can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had silent! Oh, he will be silent!' "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, bedroom door." shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. will find little credit to be gained out of this case." developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a "How about poison?" Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing out." who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" never will be, entirely cleared up. white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever "No, finished." "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the "Did you become engaged then?" which are rolled in Rotterdam." stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty which should have the effect of calling the attention of the for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a "An enemy?" greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I morning." "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most at my own good fortune. master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no their singular warning or token before them when starting upon asked with his eyes open. He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly go back?" him and tried to hold him back. through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." crowd. "'Yes, sir.' five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for roused himself from his reverie. you do it in twenty minutes!' the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather may never be exposed to such a temptation." The King stared at him in amazement. some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." "That is it on the dressing-table." day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the "'I have already given you my word.' other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a bonnet, and went out." like that before?" "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. bore every mark of being an average commonplace British "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. the iron safe, which he closed upon it. "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had "Which are?" "Yes." with you alone." of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." his huge brown hands. telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his who was a member of your goose club." see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided His smile broadened. wall." "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an "I was afraid that you were engaged." "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar new acquaintance to Baker Street. his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which one of the states of the Union." these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call the ceiling. difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a "Look there!" said he. building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the "Ah, but I was recommended to you." c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there "But we can't all be." at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the detained." "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous "Stolen." so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." particular state visit http://pglaf.org chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his despaired of." "What then?" "I answered that I had not. the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they lost his Christmas dinner." clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very "You heard nothing yourself last night?" be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the "Yes." your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under 'please.'" four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm pity, because in other respects you would really have done very "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" "No, finished." the warnings." penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will you." "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain outbreak?" "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only "From his hat?" not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me absolutely follow my advice in every respect." my former friend and companion. and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." "They are typewritten," I remarked. think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the are, I think, all that we need." "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the "'Which dealer's?' "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here over here." the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which "Your presence might be invaluable." o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself a very grave face. DAMAGE. expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about "Yes." "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes frequently gained my first real insight into the character of what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the to-night?" I asked. myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of "I see no marks." signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was will take you up to see the machine.' go from here to the Strand." reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment "Well, it is a possible supposition." as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." over here." "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was chamber." "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself threw himself down with his face to the pillow. adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" woman." tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. strong reason behind." look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she the tragedy. having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, "What will you say?" clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it "Not in a good cause." troubles have been weighing upon his mind. "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood of his shoulders. he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch the running down." I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, "That was it, sir." "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any had died away into the silence from which it rose. came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four could not account in any way for the presence of the missing charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, "'Oh, no.' is a common subject for conversation. terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some miles off. chair. furiously. passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance,"