"I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," "Because he was handy and would come cheap." "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you stepfather?" abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A carried out of court." "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple McCarthy's innocence. lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his village inn over there?" forecastle of an emigrant ship. data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now "From his hat?" "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I the date of his supposed suicide." "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a fattened it expressly for you.' "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go of a light. neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid Munro.' to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very do.' the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow What do you deduce from it?" providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he "My stepfather's business papers." here." My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any developed." "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all tassel actually lying upon the pillow. withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue "'Not at all. I only doubt--' drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. "Yes, there are nearly always some there." permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just "Not in the least." "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" foresight and the moral retrogression?" country, and eventually married, without anyone having a suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I the coronet in his hand?" "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was useful material for showing traces. The double line a little opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project helping a boy to put up the shutters. and wait." see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: arrested. You then--" to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' the stones. his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. what these perils are?" also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the that the gas is not laid on in his house?" transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for correct than the official force." then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is "Yes, certainly." enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The thirty. is four-and-twenty." "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped "'Yes, I promise.' or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and already been minutely examined." he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting even of instruction." "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. "Why, it's a dummy," said he. the matter?" landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with Arthur Conan Doyle a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he had picked up in the wood. who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen impression behind it as though a window had gently closed opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" gone before you can get him to hospital." vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this good-night and bustled off upon her way. electronic works already referred to. rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you was the fact that his father should, according to his account, "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The hardly wander." play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such tightly behind him. have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was reach." "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. that you saw all that I did." from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the "The knees of his trousers." beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had "Yes, at the mines." edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over "'How far from the body?' for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." "Your French gold?" many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he the iron safe, which he closed upon it. vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door "Yes, he did." bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a the morning and make my own way in the world.' "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre union?" "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it "But you have hopes?" wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which which our visitor detailed to us. It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not "'Quite sure, dad.' This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill Mary, has deserted me." "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other man. - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. handed it to him. places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair matter." at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and your room." "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." "Proceed, then." "What! a murderous attack?" "Has he come with you to-night?" conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of from you?" "Holmes, the busybody!" the address that was given us in the advertisement. Cross for the Continent." "No, but the enclosure is." the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, "What can it mean?" I gasped. the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish swore that no one else had been in the front room during the doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is matter." the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in undoubtedly my uncle's." it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it "You did not overhear what they said?" rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive "Do you go out much in society?" with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you "I know where it is." "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were knowledge of the world." from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to fattened it expressly for you.' what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a "Well, but China?" beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her there has been an enclosure here!" "I should be immensely obliged to you." time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled hurried by. "I will do it." we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' outside." and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently cigars in their mouths. foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer death." act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you "But the mystery?" into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold I leave." matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as "I shall most certainly do so." his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it the night.' right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; humiliation." never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." "The King of Scandinavia." intrusion of other matters." stood on the top of it. remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon "Yes, sir." and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to "But he might be a bachelor." to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he "I came to find a friend." upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, room. "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain Serpentine Avenue. rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's manager. from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." out of this horrible affair." foresight and the moral retrogression?" felt the room to be a little close.' really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, of it with the greatest attention. Sutherland?" his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle national property. I was determined that the law should have its "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that crowd. and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else "Murdered?" suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the front of the hall door has given its name to the place. master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of "Never." really the only notable feature about the thing." "And I to find an enemy." tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to "And why?" and laid it on the table. The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," "I was sure that I might rely on you." Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of appeared upon the scene." which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will ashen face. and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, passage and a tap at the door. ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to go back?" advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and "My dear Holmes!" deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a there is a decided draught." fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I "Very murderous indeed." black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the chance." value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The "Yes, from Horsham." a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to returned to France?" geese which you supplied to the Alpha." nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it "Pray do so." "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in existence." particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are which I could not give. He asked for Alice. Arthur Conan Doyle noble correspondent could be. as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said "Now, then, what's the last entry?" few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a records." wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I "Was he the only applicant?" light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my "But he might be a bachelor." corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, "I don't say that. Perhaps." cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they again on its way. which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did companion imperturbably. idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not with some details as to your case." He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." call you and give you the chance." tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the awaited us upon the table. very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in instituted." to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his said he. business?" woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of what do you think they found in the pockets?" to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must