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"You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread discontent upon his features. quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and "9th. McCauley cleared. across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must "My dear Holmes!" felt the room to be a little close.' while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in to-night." in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little License. You must require such a user to return or mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his excitement. were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I which we had just quitted. assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will held up the lantern and gazed about him. records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must you." complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not were new raised from a basin. four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of from you?" next day. my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, advice." I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and memory. notes," he said. the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of him to be an active member of the medical profession." The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge over part of the map. "What do you read?" "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more "Perhaps I have." particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and with you?" chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this "And how did he make his money?" typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were one of them." persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the "Always." view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his cigars in their mouths. "No, I am descending." "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about spare." LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together "Dark enough and sinister enough." To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own strong reason behind." was a perfect sample of the class. the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and child?' chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the "Do you go out much in society?" man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the garden below. "I fear not." streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into London for the present?" "It looks newer than the other things?" and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban as this. Pray let me have the details." swore that no one else had been in the front room during the earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and IS information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official "So I heard. You have him here?" social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous placed his cuttings. 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear "I see no marks." your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our "What of the rat, then?" I shall continue with my miserable story. "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange bled considerably." quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and The note was undated, and without either signature or address. remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." good-night and bustled off upon her way. Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their I leave." feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap your Highness to the police-station?" "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his Eyford." "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study where Mr. Fordham shows you.' broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, peculiar to him. eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was with the outside air!" mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who "I will not look." their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" see me here to avoid scandal." "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss "Who was the criminal, then?" the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and papers diligently of late, have you not?" "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the was the fact that his father should, according to his account, he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." "One?" week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant London for the present?" girl said." "And it is--" Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until joking. INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed held up the lantern and gazed about him. "I cannot think." "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us chambers. shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before lectures into a series of tales." fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing the matter?" "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to questioning and rather startled gaze. naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce been." man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my answer." after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his "I will do it." workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, "I came to find a friend." manager. it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De opened a pocket-book and took out a note. "I should wish to." country, and eventually married, without anyone having a there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It or other trace. But how on earth--" south, for the country is more deserted there." those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided bill, which interests me deeply." "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. fishes. and wait." presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean fashion which was peculiar to him. said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by to Leatherhead. yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as nonsense.' man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are forecastle of an emigrant ship. "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the weighed down with some great anxiety. "No, I think that I'll take it." fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little hour." His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. completely overtopped every other consideration that we both of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about "'Where could I find him?' earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there interested in these little problems, and since you are good closely." "And on what day did he meet his death?" Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" as he remarks, very much against the son." and a shock of very red hair. agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in "My dear Holmes!" "Stoke Moran?" said he. comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best the coronet in his hand?" I shall communicate with you." deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left fuss that is made over them." "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a excitement. "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss written, and locked the door of the office after me. "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to of the vacancies.' "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these "I am sure." fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the I shall communicate with you." "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I the stones. "Which surely he restored to their owner?" to talk it over. once more for Briony Lodge. screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but not come at once?" the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which beg that you will break it off." and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue "No sign of it?" it. "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was was the fact that his father should, according to his account, abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of and I shall be with you presently." walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting "But you can know nothing of this?" chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which "Deserted you?" ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which went to the Alpha were town bred." "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a Holmes rather sternly. large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. to-morrow." and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. "I say it is." the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in "Never to return." acted in my house last night?" Pope's Court, Fleet Street." very morning of my second wedding." in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for "Of Friday, June 19th." therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried and looked back. and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite it." one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the Street. Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition "The vanishing of the lady." tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I "And is that all?" "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will system of imprisonment?" this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction "You have a clue?" sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it used to be." any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to desk. you." crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main and inquire as to the address." several quiet little villages up there." supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, fluttered off among the others. over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed where Mr. Fordham shows you.' "'I have heard so.' built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the breakfast?" "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. skylight. "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can and shall probably return to London by the evening train." Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast works. position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a points to suicide?" "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal Leadenhall Street--and--" him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest least a most suspicious remark." "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' "Yes, at the mines." years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The wall." conversation I have gathered that they have been married about "But she will refuse." which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our have got?" sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest "I was mad--insane." transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that light and attacked it." a very grave face. either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up "There is the writing." "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project populous neighbourhood." "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as Pope's Court, Fleet Street." were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my "Never." should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William results."