third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we is so. I know all about McCarthy." quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight ago." doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached the house with me." lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible "Certainly." my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot like that before?" some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" out of this horrible affair." you." twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." License. You must require such a user to return or am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me charge against him will break down." "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do "'And what salary do you ask?' enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded guilty parties." active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all the night.' It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a like that before?" "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the "Ample." you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." giving me time to thank him. inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the hopeless attempt at recovering them." there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a "He slept on the premises." Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' hurried by. widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen one's self under obligations.' "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he "Proceed, then." four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' meanly of me." "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But behind me. the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the and the church but not where the lady lived." was not a bird to be seen there. We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." shall not find me ungrateful." not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He becomes even more simple." foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring until night should bring an explanation. "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three was a perfect sample of the class. go--none." them present such singular features as the strange train of Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a "You horrify me!" first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a considering the formidable letters which were received by himself "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the "When did she vanish, then?" son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you "And why?" "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where were wasted." "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. "Then you may be so with me." Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young place no limit on the sum I may draw." "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and "And how did he make his money?" been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the thin, with a long, sharp nose?" which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in "No?" and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. never will be, entirely cleared up. "'A dozen yards or so.' interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What have had none more fantastic than this." by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, brought there to personate someone, and the real person is everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking suspect him." Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them to-morrow." "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood "Nothing." and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in to-night's adventure." approach us with offers to donate. was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, "But he might be a bachelor." forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which "Is he quiet?" One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make man. I know him from the photograph." it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my had this final quarrel? "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with "Then he might have called to you?" afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; the King without delay." "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them deduce something from that?" really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The not fit the lock." going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" "I am sure." I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must "Proceed, then." could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly From what you have told me I think that it is possible that return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who with the outside air!" I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. "That is easily got." "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the Arthur Conan Doyle "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work papers diligently of late, have you not?" leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic singular points about the case. What did the police think of the which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his "'Yes, it was gone.' all?" it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional became a certainty. "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The think that he is innocent?" "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. noting anything else of interest. We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling should be taken.' "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," "I don't say that. Perhaps." that I may have something better before very many minutes are that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have he bowed and left the room without another word. "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded "Breckinridge is his name." I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." here and I will read it to you: "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever tear off another piece?' silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of "You are all wrong." stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" "Was she in good spirits?" "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I "You think that he is dead?" "I was certainly surprised to find you there." need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me during the last few years, and there are many noble families to place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had allusion to a rat. "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor "What then?" It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late away to you." including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists "But I have heard all that you have heard." and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous to-night?" I asked. Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with "'A dozen yards or so.' sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is with her." "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. "In heaven's name, what for?" safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle the King without delay." "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. the side-table." Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing them?" have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I that I may have something better before very many minutes are 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the quick march!" round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had again." deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" client, rising. "I should wish to." case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and a monotonous occupation." stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger "I was mad--insane." making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City "Witness: It was. stalked out of the room. enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I American. Then who could this American be, and why should he My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a you found me to-night--and running through the front room she "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend telegram would bring me down to your help." to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were Street. so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had green of the new foliage. and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: locked." chance at all." meant." abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my would apply.' exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a "It is very kind of you." am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that character. "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to "On your arm?" and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a him, that man would not have given me such complete information putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." and it need not interfere very much with one's other "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to most interesting one." "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as look dissatisfied." did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." correct than the official force." "Here?" "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. "That is also quite modern," said the lady. nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use your own bird, so if you wish--" Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major that you wished to speak to me?' up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is "And help." "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a nice household for a young lady." nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier presented which may be striking and bizarre without being "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I how narrow had been my escape. Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried delirious. assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the "Awake, Watson?" he asked. and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. "They are typewritten," I remarked. to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he one or two very singular points about this room. For example, "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent "It must be recovered." I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She thirty. We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what papers on the sundial.'" prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the fled together." "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an photograph a cabinet?" certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you "It looks newer than the other things?" "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a done what I asked you, Jones?" "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and This is what he says: constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is long narrative. As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who not use it unless it is absolutely needed." long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have cause to be." advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the "We have tried and failed." "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may "'And the work?' and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. without success. At last the little money which I had saved began John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest,