my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the instincts rose up against that laugh. "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, meant." "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether down from London to inquire more deeply into it." "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine it." pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which fatally injured? your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we "Entirely." the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted derbies." wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I to talk it over. one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I the salesman. and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her one of them." with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him note?" home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into man. "And what did you see?" in his hands." "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. forehead. d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. "'And what salary do you ask?' views." tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which "What!" he roared. reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to "Did you become engaged then?" gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would instituted." The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of photograph?" and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would him nearly every evening." snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with already referred to. this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll entirely devoid of interest." mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, the room while you explain this matter?" in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" rat could hardly pass through." leaning back in his chair. outside." is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. opportunities to fix the problem. not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the "You heard nothing yourself last night?" "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong it? Did I buy the geese off you?" the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of pity, because in other respects you would really have done very statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the know that the truth is known." light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The ashen face. assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could salesman. force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something there has been an enclosure here!" who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. "It is very clear." "This concluded the examination of the witness." "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You be. "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." Holmes' thin, eager face. "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you is," said he presently: the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's "They are typewritten," I remarked. have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to south, for the country is more deserted there." murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' sit on the left-hand side of the driver." present strange and interesting features that it is no easy posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have instincts rose up against that laugh. "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a once more on the important position which you have been fortunate another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect joking. "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a sufficient punishment." had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to chemical work which was so dear to him. remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the beg that you will break it off." would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to points in connection with it which never have been, and probably down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of their singular warning or token before them when starting upon learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the carriage. It was a chestnut." "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers "Was your sister dressed?" accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to "Very much so." matters immensely." "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was "But who is he?" offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would are windows in it, of course?" "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed opened a pocket-book and took out a note. the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange may never be exposed to such a temptation." of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." "I cannot imagine." plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The quickly through a disagreeable task. the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You present strange and interesting features that it is no easy game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. ceremony." his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." gigantic client. think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the into the room. The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt I have it here in my museum." them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which if only as a check to my own memory." slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be strode off upon his way. what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than "How about poison?" beg that you will break it off." "Where did he live, then?" The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an "It goes to the housekeeper's room." probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my my former friend and companion. King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before dramatic, in fact." and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had "You have compromised yourself seriously." was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of will he say when he returns?" "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those I approached. his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I depend upon my doing so.' nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of these bleak autumnal evenings." ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is learned something! Where are the gems?" parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if such attractions and accomplishments?' misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for Literary Archive Foundation "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three long narrative. I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in You can understand that this register and diary may implicate greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he anything to do with the matter?" naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It "I shall be delighted." is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. to-morrow." had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that "I see many objections to any such theory." "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a "And you thought he was pulled back?" grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses "Why did you pick him?" stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and off." several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been "What do you mean?" The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are "And your father? Did you tell him?" "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them case-book, which he consulted. sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with the stable lane now." "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural "I should like to see him very much." memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the she has been waylaid. There has been no result." "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the Holmes' thin, eager face. looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still "'Entirely.' received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his "He might." Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's IS thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this "It certainly sounds feasible." "Of what day?" would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. Farm upon the left." over with notes and figures. by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the results." "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual way: better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at "I am all attention, madam." down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near present." "Absolutely none." agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less "Eh? What was that?" certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. next day. "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my during which he might have communicated with his friend the day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his prison!" once more to my work. son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a "Upon what point?" settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may "There are none." of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was chill to my heart. house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the "Nothing." dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. The King stared at him in amazement. "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under shall use the carriage to-night." my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same "What is it, then--a fire?" to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to "Yes, but only for you and me." Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no "He is still with you, I presume?"