hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so could not account in any way for the presence of the missing married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone cost them two and thirty pounds." upon the white wrist. the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his together. the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then had died away into the silence from which it rose. impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way help us in this matter." through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter over with notes and figures. impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would daring than any effort of the imagination." "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was of note-paper. It read in this fashion: carried out of court." inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy the date of his supposed suicide." question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa "10th. John Swain cleared. "Did you become engaged then?" turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not "Well?" than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the "Not in a good cause." manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my Sutherland?" fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little "I will not look." ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," of the way of danger. "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had kindly on the shoulder. and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body retorted upon me, and I on you." not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and "And why in hopes?" Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our thought that she would have been so carried away." "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more "Nothing." situation." The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and "'It is locked up,' I answered. the very morning of the wedding." but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a jewels which you have stolen?' on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. "What can it mean?" I gasped. every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little you." was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle any." Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, asked with his eyes open. Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" IS Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, for securing the situation." rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, "I cannot say that I have." "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried "Absolutely none." reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the remarked. "Then, how do you know?" Street. "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my an introduction to him?" As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. His smile broadened. story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news himself to tell his story. an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and records." does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so Mary, has deserted me." registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for "Ha! you find it so?" "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so "'Certainly not. But why?' "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare "Awake, Watson?" he asked. "How did you trace it, then?" reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the away in different directions, and I went off to make my own which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He "And now?" He raised his hand. right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of me have 200 pounds?' Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you "But who is he?" Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that if she died from some sudden fright." roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing suggested at once that there must be a communication between the all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than "I was mad--insane." me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from the stable lane now." "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it few hundred pounds.' "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. a very grave face. importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think and wait." ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." least a fellow-countryman. know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray "But you were on a friendly footing?" when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" bore every mark of being an average commonplace British Gutenberg-tm License. can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of was shining brightly. and no precautions can guard against." out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged country, and eventually married, without anyone having a "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable "Which are?" "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could get her out of the way." "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the little adventures." have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position affection." turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of indeed which he could not unravel. after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue place no limit on the sum I may draw." "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence she has been waylaid. There has been no result." "'Certainly not. But why?' "And I say east," said my patient. and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send returning from some small jollification and was making his way was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely "And you can do nothing until then?" inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. hurried by. breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on "No, I am descending." "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement would apply.' "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting "But she could not love him." you want, then?' note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in may never be exposed to such a temptation." window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I at my own good fortune. that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any charge against him will break down." Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. flock.' chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. should be so warm over such a trifle." dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to daring than any effort of the imagination." coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on throat." other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. peculiar to him. pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps fasten all the windows?" chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, "What is it?" reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in said he. envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping "I will, Miss Turner." "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy "Breckinridge is his name." by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable "Then the page we have seen--" hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the as he folded up the epistle. violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the future lives." down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the experiences." "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with the iron safe, which he closed upon it. It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a to go into your room and bar your shutters?" it." arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal "And your father? Did you tell him?" man. I know him from the photograph." "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must new duties?' for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a suggested at once that there must be a communication between the lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A even of instruction." how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective my secret was safe in his possession. "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young that you saw all that I did." black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the "My dear Holmes!" contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say 1.F. spare." "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' "How did you deduce the select?" greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to help us in this matter." Mrs. Toller serenely. never to learn it at all." have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of "And what did you see?" dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle woman who has had her own way to make in the world. eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune burst out into a roar of laughter. "'It is locked up,' I answered. Leadenhall Street--and--" "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no weary and pale-looking. interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was stammered. chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which people in all walks of life. her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and wanted for ourselves." smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work opportunities to fix the problem. the King without delay." wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" "Bought." money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. "Two days later this same performance was gone through under "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have as yours." the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I friends, not even his own brother. central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover Street. "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' "Really! You surprise me." London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong that I may have something better before very many minutes are cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. "But of what society?" said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I and the church but not where the lady lived." strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in "It was." "I am to be neutral?" think that he is innocent?" Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here which was all perfectly true. happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to "Proceed, then." But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had "How about poison?" could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's this unhappy family?" to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised "Witness: I must still refuse. strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have "'Why that?' I asks. A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds