. E SL. C. ' on the flap. "'Oh, yes, I really mean it. 'I understand that a
 stable-boy sleeps there alone every night. I must raise the money
 in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try
 other means. Far away I could catch glimpses of the old
 gray building with its bristling Tudor chimneys, but the drive ran
 through a dense shrubbery, and I saw no more of my man. Norbury tugged thrice 
with all his strength upon the cord, and then
 lowered himself over the edge, while a hundred anxious faces peered over
 at him as he slowly clambered downwards to the end of the rope. Twice he
 stretched out his foot, and twice he failed to reach the point at which
 he aimed, but even as he swung himself for a third effort a stone from
 a sling buzzed like a wasp from amid the rocks and struck him full upon
 the side of his head. It is incredible,
 impossible, that it should really be outside the ordinary laws of
 nature. He
 returned to his miserable lodgings with his plan of vengeance all
 arranged. He was well liked by the few neighbours who
 called upon him, and he has the reputation down there of being a very
 learned man. His back was bowed, his knees were shaky, and his breathing
 was painfully asthmatic. Are they blood stains, or mud stains, or rust stains, 
or fruit stains,
 or what are they? That is a question which has puzzled many an expert,
 and why? Because there was no reliable test. "
 
 I picked up my hat and my heaviest stick, but I observed that Holmes
 took his revolver from his drawer and slipped it into his pocket. "
 
 "Stolen, then. "You gave
 me such a fright. "
 
 "By all means. "
 
 "Yes," he answered, "there are in me the makings of a very fine loafer
 and also of a pretty spry sort of fellow. There was little Robby Withstaff, 
and Andrew
 Salblaster, and Wat Alspaye, who broke the neck of the German. It is death. In 
an instant the Lady Maude had turned upon her two blazing
 eyes and a face which was blanched with anger. We saw it whisk past the light 
thrown
 from over the door and disappear against the black shadow of the house. 
"Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a
 card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I
 saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps
 even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name
 which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest,
 noblest, most exalted names in England. He
 stamped his feet upon the ground. His ingenious mind instantly suggested a way 
by which the baronet could
 be done to death, and yet it would be hardly possible to bring home the
 guilt to the real murderer. I fancy she knows more about this than appears. My 
senses
 swam, but I still tore at the hand and forced it out from my chin. He was 
still,
 as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his
 immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in
 following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which
 had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. "He looks like a beaten 
man," cried Phelps. "Oh, he rates my assistance too highly," said Sherlock 
Holmes, lightly. Why, all
 the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to
 be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to
 separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him,
 and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. Peter Karsdale, who
 was but a common country lout newly brought over, with the English fleas
 still hopping under his doublet, laid his great hands upon the Sieur
 Amaury de Chatonville, who owns half Picardy, and had five thousand
 crowns out of him, with his horse and harness. This day, however, he had been 
sombre and mute, with scarce a word a
 mile to bestow upon his comrade. On the contrary, it seemed
 rather a piquant thing to us to chevy him about the playground and hit
 him over the shins with a wicket. They were close upon it when
 of a sudden there broke out a wild hubbub from a distant portion of the
 camp, with screams and war-cries and all the wild tumult of battle. My 
companion lounged in his arm-chair with his usual listless
 expression, while Small sat stolidly opposite to him with his wooden
 leg cocked over his sound one. The walls were carefully sounded,
 and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was
 also thoroughly examined, with the same result. I sit and muse and make an 
occasional note. Of
 the woman nothing was ever heard, and the probability is that she got
 away out of England and carried herself and the memory of her crime to
 some land beyond the seas. "
 
 "Texas, I think. "
 
 "Impossible, I say. L. "
 
 "How do you know this, Barrymore?"
 
 "Well, Sir Henry, your uncle had a letter that morning. Are you going to bed,
 Holmes?"
 
 "No:  I am not tired. I have a curious constitution. However, we must do what
 we can. He had come to offer apologies
 for his rudeness of the morning, and after a long private interview with
 Sir Henry in his study the upshot of their conversation was that the
 breach is quite healed, and that we are to dine at Merripit House next
 Friday as a sign of it. "I have been a governess for five years," said she, 
"in the
 family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel
 received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his
 children over to America with him, so that I found myself without
 a situation. Think better of it, dear! Trust me again, and
 you will never have cause to regret it. "
 
 She looked so beautiful in her enthusiasm that I nearly brought down
 the whole level of the interview. I should think he may
 have had some secret trouble. "Susan is a country girl," said he, "and you 
know the incredible
 stupidity of that class. I fancy that the poor fellow murmured some
 incoherent delirious words, and that she twisted them into this
 meaningless message. '
 
 "I was, as you may think, Watson, horrified at this unexpected news. Melas, I 
hope, but we could not
 get on without you. It was a simple story which he had to tell, and one which 
did but
 confirm our own deductions. He hath fled the law and is beyond its pale. What 
did
 he do? He sprang up on the mantelpiece, could not quite reach it, put
 his knee on the bracket--you will see the impression in the dust--and so
 got his knife to bear upon the cord. "
 
 "I am convinced myself," said I, "that there is an understanding between
 those two people. Poor lady, she has had a most dreadful experience. It was
 certainly, as you said, very surprising that he should have contracted
 an out-of-the-way Asiatic disease in the heart of London--a disease,
 too, of which I had made such a very special study. There were one or
 two folk who were inclined to take him seriously, but he soon choked
 them off. "
 
 I had listened with the greatest interest to the statement which Holmes,
 with characteristic clearness, had laid before me. "
 
 "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very
 heavy and sharp instrument. "Well," said Lestrade, "I've seen you handle a 
good many cases, Mr. "  (This curious phrase he pronounced as if it were all one
 word--"young-fellah-me-lad. "
 
 "I did not say that I had read all the letter. Besides
 the chairman and Baldwin there were the vulture-faced secretary,
 Harraway, Tiger Cormac, the brutal young assassin, Carter, the
 treasurer, and the brothers Willaby, fearless and desperate men who
 would stick at nothing. It is an inconceivable
 thing, but even our special war tax of fifty million, which one would
 think made our purpose as clear as if we had advertised it on the front
 page of the Times, has not roused these people from their slumbers. This leads 
to his murder by
 someone who is, we will suppose, an avenger, someone from outside. I opened 
his despatch-box, took the paper, and
 conveyed it to Godolphin Street. He took a kind of fancy to me then, and
 would hardly go back to his woods, but was always hanging about my hut. 
Instantly he gave an exclamation of satisfaction,
 strapped up the valise, shut the safe, locked it, and hurried out on to
 the terrace. Long afterwards when I had fallen
 into a light sleep I heard a key turn somewhere in a lock, but I could
 not tell whence the sound came. Scarce had
 the last deep "amen" broken from the Company, when, in an instant, there
 rose the scream of a hundred bugles, with the deep rolling of drums and
 the clashing of cymbals, all sounding together in one deafening uproar. 
Knights and archers sprang to arms, convinced that some great host was
 upon them; but the guide dropped upon his knees and thanked Heaven for
 its mercies. "We have found them, caballeros!" he cried. "This is their 
morning call. "It fills up a
 gap which I had been unable to bridge in this most complex affair. The work
 to a man of my temperament was mechanical and uninteresting, but the
 privilege of living with youth, of helping to mould those young minds,
 and of impressing them with one's own character and ideals was very dear
 to me. But with me there is a limit, and when I find a man who
 keeps his cigars in the coal-scuttle, his tobacco in the toe end of
 a Persian slipper, and his unanswered correspondence transfixed by a
 jack-knife into the very centre of his wooden mantelpiece, then I begin
 to give myself virtuous airs. "
 
 
 About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished,
 and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. "
 
 "Exactly. Go tell him that a humble knight of
 England would make his further honorable acquaintance, not from any
 presumption, pride, or ill-will, but for the advancement of chivalry and
 the glory of our ladies. "
 
 When they were gone we looked out of the window again. "You'll only get 
yourself hurt," said the inspector. "
 
 Audley Court was not an attractive locality. I
 called last night, as I have already said, at the Manor House. But I have great
 hopes--in fact, the betting is exactly two to one--that if you will come
 with us to-night I shall be able to help you to lay him by the heels. "
 
 Colonel Ross, who had shown some signs of impatience at my companion's
 quiet and systematic method of work, glanced at his watch. "
 
 "Then read this," quoth Sir Nigel, pointing upwards to one of the many
 quarterings which adorned the wall over the fireplace. "There he is stepping 
into
 it. "I think it is time now that we took our friend Lestrade into
 our confidence. Whatever come, you always find
 me here. 'Un sot trouve toujours un plus sot
 qui l'admire. '"
 
 "What on earth is this?" I cried, for at this moment there came the
 pattering of many steps in the hall and on the stairs, accompanied by
 audible expressions of disgust upon the part of our landlady. Malone. Say 
'please,' and down
 you come. Let him think that
 Selden's death was as Stapleton would have us believe. What was this
 paper which was stolen?"
 
 "Madam, what you ask me is really impossible. "
 
 "Well, well, it is surely not quite so bad as that. Again the ground sloped, 
and again we came on the tracks. A vague, nameless
 dread came over him, and he hurried onwards frantically, dropping the
 precious food in his agitation. Shortly after Peter Carey gave up the
 sea, and it was long years before I could find where he was. Clambering up 
among the rocks, the companions saw a long rolling
 cloud of dust along the whole eastern sky-line, with the glint of spears
 and the flutter of pennons, which announced the approach of a large body
 of cavalry. For a moment a wild hope came upon them that perhaps the
 prince had moved more swiftly than had been planned, that he had crossed
 the Ebro, and that this was his vanguard sweeping to the attack. It was nearly 
five before we were back in Baker
 Street once more. Soon I came upon the
 source of it, for in the center of a small clearing I found a lake--or
 a pool, rather, for it was not larger than the basin of the Trafalgar
 Square fountain--of some black, pitch-like stuff, the surface of which
 rose and fell in great blisters of bursting gas. The air above it was
 shimmering with heat, and the ground round was so hot that I could
 hardly bear to lay my hand on it. He looks around
 him then for some tried fighting man, some honest smiter who can give a
 blow or take one. The others marked
 it and applauded. Behind stood knots of Gascon and Brabant crossbowmen from
 the companies of Ortingo and of La Nuit, leaning upon their unsightly
 weapons and watching the practice of the Englishmen. Two hundred heavily-armed 
cavalry rode behind the
 Audley standard, while close at their heels came the Duke of Lancaster
 with a glittering train, heralds tabarded with the royal arms riding
 three deep upon cream-colored chargers in front of him. With him came Aylward 
and Hordle John, armed
 as of old, but mounted for their journey upon a pair of clumsy Landes
 horses, heavy-headed and shambling, but of great endurance, and capable
 of jogging along all day, even when between the knees of the huge
 archer, who turned the scale at two hundred and seventy pounds. Over the edge 
there peeped a clean-cut,
 boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand
 on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and
 waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. The enormously thick walls 
and tiny windows
 of this part had in the last century driven the family into building the
 new wing, and the old one was used now as a store-house and a cellar,
 when it was used at all. Jefferson Hope looked wildly round
 to see if there was a second grave, but there was no sign of one. "
 
 The whole thing occurred in a moment--so quickly that I had no time
 to realize it. Look at the hillside
 yonder. You see it marked here
 in the map. But you
 vill find other lodgings, mister. And now, boys," he continued, looking
 round at the company, "I'll say this much, that if Stanger got his full
 deserts there would be more trouble than we need ask for. "
 
 There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke
 bright and cloudless. "A most urgent telegram was dispatched to you from 
London by Godfrey
 Staunton at six-fifteen yesterday evening--a telegram which is
 undoubtedly associated with his disappearance--and yet you have not had
 it. MacDonald!" he kept repeating. "We'll
 have the pressmen down like flies when they understand it. I'm hoping
 we will get our work done before they get poking their noses into it and
 messing up all the trails. That's one of my jobs. "
 
 A cab had driven up whilst the American had been talking. They meet, they 
write, there
 is a complete understanding between them. Coupled with this distortion of the 
face, this
 Hippocratic smile, or 'risus sardonicus,' as the old writers called it,
 what conclusion would it suggest to your mind?"
 
 "Death from some powerful vegetable alkaloid," I answered,--"some
 strychnine-like substance which would produce tetanus. "
 
 "That was the idea which occurred to me the instant I saw the drawn
 muscles of the face. "That does not
 satisfy me in the least. "
 
 The secretary chuckled. "
 
 "How do you know?"
 
 "I saw their traces. We could see
 the high tongues of fire shooting up into the air. "
 
 "No, no," cried Holmes, "not a word to the cousin--not a word, I beg
 of you. "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining
 light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the
 parents. 'It is K. If I were to see my father in one of
 these dreadful seizures I am convinced that I should never survive
 it. Yours faithfully,
 
 "TOBIAS GREGSON. "Hopkins has called me in seven times, and on each occasion 
his summons
 has been entirely justified," said Holmes. "I fancy that every one of
 his cases has found its way into your collection, and I must admit,
 Watson, that you have some power of selection, which atones for much
 which I deplore in your narratives. Straker was brought back here, I presume?"
 
 "Yes; he lies upstairs. But Mr. "
 
 "No tracks or marks?"
 
 "None. "I have not yet described to you the most singular part. "
 
 In a few clear words Holmes explained the situation as it had appeared
 to us. Now our prisoner sat
 up, looked round him with a horror-stricken face, and passed his hand
 over his forehead, like one who cannot believe his own senses. They are on the 
further
 side of the moat. My
 wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would
 like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. I may tell you
 that I had got as far as Plymouth upon my way to Africa, but the news
 reached me this morning, and I came straight back again to help in the
 inquiry. At the same instant the
 bookcase at which Holmes pointed swung round upon a hinge, and a woman
 rushed out into the room. I sprang to my feet, my inert hand grasping my 
pistol, my mind paralyzed
 by the dreadful shape which had sprung out upon us from the shadows of
 the fog. The man's sleeve had slipped up and there was
 the branded mark of the lodge upon his forearm. Even now, if we could be sure 
which of
 them has taken it, it is just possible that it has not yet passed out of
 his hands. As to
 Challenger, he was wonderful!  Never have I so realized the elemental
 greatness of the man, the sweep and power of his understanding. "'Tell me, 
dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little
 disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out
 to-night?'
 
 "'Certainly not. "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see 
for
 yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address
 where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out,
 the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah
 Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. Stand with me here upon the 
terrace,
 for it may be the last quiet talk that we shall ever have. "
 
 He ran distractedly, his pistol in his hand, towards a gap in the hedge. 
Holmes. "I am glad to stretch myself, Watson," said he. Holmes, devilish!" 
cried Mortimer Tregennis. I may tell you, however, that his
 Grace has already intimated that a check for five thousand pounds will
 be handed over to the person who can tell him where his son is, and
 another thousand to him who can name the man or men who have taken him. He 
must disclose all, or he is a
 traitor to his service. As he approached, he recognized him as a Mormon named 
Cowper, to
 whom he had rendered services at different times. Right in front of the house, 
upon the left-hand
 side of the drive, there stood a patriarch among oaks, one of the most
 magnificent trees that I have ever seen. OVERTON. "Strand postmark, and 
dispatched ten thirty-six," said Holmes, reading
 it over and over. "Mr. Douglas was altering the pictures yesterday," he said. 
He slipped into this room
 because it was the first he came to, and he hid behind the curtain. "Is she?" 
he said, languidly. "I did not observe. "Ah, that's lucky," he said, and not 
another word would he utter that
 night. And with an apology he
 followed the Inspector outside. We are estranged, and I want to know why. We 
found----"
 
 "Yes? You found----"
 
 Holmes's face grew tense with anxiety. "
 
 "Oh, he went out the first night, did he?"
 
 "Yes, sir, and returned very late--after we were all in bed. As designed at 
first,
 no dwelling had been allotted to the lord of the castle and his family
 but the dark and dismal basement story of the keep. It was no easy or light 
thing to journey through this great forest,
 which was some twenty miles from east to west and a good sixteen from
 Bramshaw Woods in the north to Lymington in the south. You could easily 
recognize it, could you not?"
 
 "Yes, sir. Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with
 it? Did I buy the geese off you?"
 
 "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little
 man. "Well, then, ask Mrs. Here and there we drifted about the world,
 something always turning up to keep us from London. Good-bye. "
 
 When we were out in the darkness of the quadrangle, we again looked
 up at the windows. "Why, there's no good
 my telling you things, for you seem to know as much as I do already,"
 said he. "I was on the same scent as you
 from the first. "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. He was a 
charming youth, and he soon fell into our ways. "'Well, my man,' said he. Might 
I ask
 how you know, and how much you know?' He spoke now in a half-jesting
 fashion, but a look of terror still lurked at the back of his eyes. "
 
 I crept forward and looked across at the familiar window. "If there be
 so many as has been said, then there will be much honor to be gained
 from them and every hope of advancement. "
 
 And, indeed, it proved to be a very merry meal. There was no mark on any of 
them, as far as I know. Then there were ninety-seven very fine
 emeralds, and one hundred and seventy rubies, some of which, however,
 were small. "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and
 has just been serving his time in Pentonville. I'd go some way to see him get 
his deserts. "
 
 It took some doing, but I flatter myself that it wasn't such a bad job
 when it was finished. Not one word
 did she say, but as she vanished amid the trees she half turned in her
 saddle and waved a last greeting. His incredible untidiness, his
 addiction to music at strange hours, his occasional revolver practice
 within doors, his weird and often malodorous scientific experiments,
 and the atmosphere of violence and danger which hung around him made
 him the very worst tenant in London. "
 
 "But why could he not tell you this?"
 
 "Well, my dear sir, knowing the vindictive character of his old
 associates, he was trying to hide his own identity from everybody as
 long as he could. He was thoughtful and worried. "Who are you, then? What do 
you want?" he asked in a quavering
 voice. "
 
 "And it was she, I presume, who mentioned your name?"
 
 "Exactly," said McFarlane. The flowers were trampled down, and the
 soft soil was imprinted all over with footmarks. Ah, there you see
 another blaze on the top of Crowborough Hill. "  I heard the striking of a 
match. I glanced my eyes down
 it, catching a profusion of notes of admiration, with stray
 "magnifiques," "coup-de-maitres," and "tours-de-force," all testifying
 to the ardent admiration of the Frenchman. "
 
 Young Stamford looked rather strangely at me over his wine-glass. "I believe I 
have it!  Follow me!  Follow me!"
 
 I hurried back along the way we had come, my torch in my hand. "When your 
round is a short one you walk, and when it is a long one you
 use a hansom. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of
 him, that man would not have given me such complete information
 as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a
 wager. "
 
 "I have a few notes for your guidance, Mr. "The third on the right is his," 
said the inspector. For three hundred years my folk have swinked and sweated, 
day in and day
 out, to keep the wine on the lord's table and the harness on the lord's
 back. There was a family quarrel about money
 which estranged this man Mortimer, but it was supposed to be made up,
 and I afterwards met him as I did the others. I tried to put on as unconcerned 
an
 air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the
 lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon
 my two companions. "A patient!" said she. "Nothing of the sort," said the 
Professor, severely. "I'll answer
 for that. I would have gone
 straight up and told him so, only I thought it was but fair to you to
 take your opinion first. "
 
 "All right," said Holmes quietly. When a few weeks later it was reported in the
 papers that Wilcox had been shot at from an ambuscade, it was an open
 secret that McMurdo was still at work upon his unfinished job. On all sides of 
you as you walk are the houses
 of these forgotten folk, with their graves and the huge monoliths which
 are supposed to have marked their temples. One was a woman, our
 client, drooping and faint, a handkerchief round her mouth. They consisted of 
a man and
 a girl, the former very tall with rounded shoulders, a limp of one
 foot, and a large flat object covered with dark cloth under his arm. The 
others went in. The Lady Tiphaine was lowered with a noose
 drawn fast under the arms, and the other five slid swiftly down, amid
 the cheers and joyous outcry of their rescuers. So our book has already become 
a LARGE book, which is surely something
 gained. It was not the father, however, who first discovered that the child had
 developed into the woman. At the far end is
 an old tumble-down summer-house. The maid stood petrified for a
 moment, and then, recovering her courage, she ran downstairs. "I'll do so," he 
said, "we've been in the
 mountains for two months, and are not over and above in visiting
 condition. "Patent leathers [10] and
 Square-toes came in the same cab, and they walked down the pathway
 together as friendly as possible--arm-in-arm, in all probability. When they 
got inside they walked up and down the room--or rather,
 Patent-leathers stood still while Square-toes walked up and down. That is why 
I say that the murrain
 was the best friend that the borel folk ever had. He saw and he heard nothing, 
and yet in the morning a great 27 had
 been painted upon the outside of his door. "
 
 "Here are paper and pen. His face was more
 cadaverous than ever, his shoulders had rounded, and he seemed to me
 to be an altogether older man than he had been the morning before. From his 
spats to his gold-rimmed spectacles he was a
 Conservative, a churchman, a good citizen, orthodox and conventional to
 the last degree. Lord John was an experienced mountaineer,
 and Summerlee had done some rough climbing at various times, so that I
 was really the novice at rock-work of the party; but my strength and
 activity may have made up for my want of experience. As for myself, I am glad 
to
 have got the bustling days of preparation and the pangs of leave-taking
 behind me, and I have no doubt that I show it in my bearing. "I am so very 
glad," said he. Don't you remember the amateur who
 fought three rounds with you at Alison's rooms on the night of your
 benefit four years back?"
 
 "Not Mr. Holmes?"
 
 "Certainly, Colonel, you shall know everything. "
 
 "Mr. Suddenly we came, however, upon
 something which cheered our hearts. It was only when I had joined him there 
that I heard what had alarmed
 his quicker senses. I was
 standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was
 aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper
 beeches. "
 
 But it was destined to be resumed long before that hour, and in
 circumstances which gave me a shock hardly second to that caused by his
 spring to the door. "
 
 Holmes opened it and smelled the single cigar which it contained. "
 
 "Ah!" She drew in her breath sharply as one whose doubts are resolved. My mind 
is like a racing engine, tearing itself to
 pieces because it is not connected up with the work for which it was
 built. "Is Miss Cushing at home?" asked Holmes. "
 
 "Nay, but you will so," said one of the laborers. It is this infernal St. 
Holmes
 had already wired to Forbes, and we found him waiting to receive us--a
 small, foxy man with a sharp but by no means amiable expression. "
 
 "The other is that it has been engineered by Moriarty in the ordinary
 course of business. "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before 
leaving
 home but after being fully dressed. Every fresh advance
 which we make only reveals a fresh ridge beyond. At last, by a sudden
 impulse, just as our train was crawling out of a suburban station, he
 sprang on to the platform and pulled me out after him. Presently--maybe about 
two or a little after--I thought I would take
 a look round and see that all was right down the Brixton Road. It was
 precious dirty and lonely. Events proved that I had judged correctly. "Having 
left the house, I proceeded to do what Gregson had neglected. The first message 
submitted to
 me was so short that it was impossible for me to do more than to say,
 with some confidence, that the symbol XXX stood for E. It must, then, be 
something
 out of the house. "
 
 "Life brings many a cross," said the Abbot gently. "
 
 "What motive could your friend have in going to Lord Mount-James?"
 
 "Well, something was worrying him the night before, and if it was to do
 with money it is possible that he would make for his nearest relative,
 who had so much of it, though from all I have heard he would not have
 much chance of getting it. HOW SIR NIGEL TOOK THE PATCH FROM HIS EYE. It was 
evening before the three comrades came into Aiguillon. "
 
 "What is your theory, then?"
 
 "Well, my theory is that he followed Drebber as far as the Brixton Road. But 
the fact remains that there isn't. The gate of Fort
 Challenger had been untouched, the walls were unbroken, and yet it had
 been visited by some strange and powerful creature in our absence. In
 the middle distance lay the golf links, dotted as they had been in the
 morning with the dark figures of the golfers, lying motionless upon the
 grass of the course or among the heather which skirted it. Why,
 with such a wonderful art at his command, McMurdo should condescend to
 work at all was a perpetual mystery to his companions; though he made it
 clear to anyone who asked him that if he lived without any visible means
 it would very quickly bring the police upon his track. Holmes, you'll hardly 
believe it, but ever
 since that girl has been in my employment I never once let her go past
 this house, where I knew the rascals were lurking, without following her
 on my bicycle, just to see that she came to no harm. "
 
 "In the country, I presume, from your complexion. "
 
 "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your
 ears. "At what time during these twenty years would
 not that have been a true word?" he cried. Your idea is an excellent one, Lord 
John. You slur over work of the utmost
 finesse and delicacy, in order to dwell upon sensational details which
 may excite, but cannot possibly instruct, the reader. I tell you that I will 
never stand in the dock. Please, please, be frank with me, Miss Stapleton, for 
ever
 since I have been here I have been conscious of shadows all round me. Life has 
become like that great Grimpen Mire, with little green patches
 everywhere into which one may sink and with no guide to point the track. Can 
you
 ask me, then, whether I am ready to look into any new problem, however
 trivial it may prove?  But here, unless I am mistaken, is our client. "
 
 "I am afraid that you will not be able to wire to me, for I can hardly
 tell yet where I may find myself. "There is nothing here," said he. "
 
 Sherlock Holmes took the glasses into his hand, and examined them with
 the utmost attention and interest. The lower of the three is Gilchrist, a fine
 scholar and athlete, plays in the Rugby team and the cricket team for
 the college, and got his Blue for the hurdles and the long jump. Beside it
 lay some cooking utensils and a bucket half-full of water. He was small, 
nervous, alert with
 intelligent light-blue eyes and mobile features. "
 
 "We had hoped that he might have given us some indications which would
 have helped us to clear the matter up. "Is he safe?" she asked. 29, Chicago?"
 
 He bowed again. "Dark nights are unpleasant," said the voice. "Yes, for 
strangers to travel," the other answered. "
 
 "From Charing Cross Hospital?"
 
 "From one or two friends there on the occasion of my marriage. I live in a
 nine-hundred-diameter microscope. Then,
 having given him the idea that the coast was clear, I kept guard as
 I have described. A little later a rakish young workman, with a goatee
 beard and a swagger, lit his clay pipe at the lamp before descending
 into the street. "The horse was alone before," I cried. "Hold up, man, or
 you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair,
 Watson. "That is unnecessary," said Holmes. "
 
 The secretary chuckled. Staunton's friend, was referred to me by Scotland
 Yard. Do you know where he is?"
 
 "Certainly not. Phelps. The affair is a very tangled one. Ford and Alleyne
 followed slowly behind them, but Aylward caught the latter by the
 shoulder. "You like them then," the lame artist cried, in answer to the look of
 pleasure and of surprise in their faces. "You imagine I am connected
 with the death of Captain Peter Carey. It
 isn't suicide I am thinking of. It
 is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I
 have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the
 death of Dr. Events proved that I had judged correctly. "Having left the 
house, I proceeded to do what Gregson had neglected. The first message 
submitted to
 me was so short that it was impossible for me to do more than to say,
 with some confidence, that the symbol XXX stood for E. "I thought he wouldn't 
face the fire," said Lord John, laughing, as he
 came back and threw his branch among the faggots. "Theories are all very well, 
but we have to deal with a
 hard-headed British jury. "
 
 "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "Very sorry, Mr. It exactly 
corresponded. "
 
 "Why?"
 
 "Look at this advertisement," he answered. So it will, I trust, appear in the 
atlas of
 the future. But mind my words: If you are
 in trouble, go to Boss McGinty. "My name, friend," quoth the bowman. "Your
 words have dazed me. I have drawn string besides you at La Roche-d'Errien, 
Romorantin,
 Maupertuis, Nogent, Auray, and other places. Bartholomew Sholto
 in joy and in sorrow for ten long years, but I never saw him with such
 a face on him as that. As far as we can learn,
 no actual traces of violence were found upon Mr. The
 strange thing is that they should have lived so thickly on what must
 always have been most unfruitful soil. He
 was a man of such gigantic strength that, even with the handcuffs
 which Holmes had so deftly fastened upon his wrists, he would have
 very quickly overpowered my friend had Hopkins and I not rushed to
 his rescue. It was a bird's-eye view of creation, as interpreted by science, 
which,
 in language always clear and sometimes picturesque, he unfolded before
 us. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how
 he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very
 clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and
 that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so
 secret. "
 
 Holmes sat in silence for some little time. "You're the man we want to see. 
Where is Miss Violet Smith?" he said, in
 his quick, clear way. "I hope that you are satisfied now?" said Mr. He was 
tractable enough, though his son was a perfect demon,
 ready to blow out his own or anybody else's brains if he could have got
 to his revolver. The first positive sign which he gave me of the direction
 which his investigation was taking was an extraordinary one. About sunset, 
however, their efforts were at last successful, and
 they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in,
 and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save
 some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of
 the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so
 dearly. She
 implored me to come to bed. For
 an instant it had crossed my mind that perhaps what she really feared
 was that HE might come to harm, for I could not doubt that she knew who
 this man was, and what he meant by these strange signals. "
 
 "Well, well, it just happens that I have already read all the available
 evidence, including the report of the inquest, with some care. He unfolded
 it and disclosed a golden pince-nez, with two broken ends of black
 silk cord dangling from the end of it. "You will now light the gas, Watson, 
but you will be very careful that
 not for one instant shall it be more than half on. "
 
 "I understood that it did not open. "After Cadsand,
 I deem that the French thought that we were an army of the blind, for
 there was scarce a man who had not closed an eye for the greater love
 and honor of his lady. Then we
 solemnly renewed our oath to stand by each other and be true to our
 secret. You'll smile, young fellah, but 'pon
 my word they might have been kinsmen. Ask him how he dared to admit
 people and leave them alone in this room. I have hold of it now. I even
 distinguished that one of them was marked with the name of 'Hyams,' who
 was Oldacres tailor. It was all we could do to overhaul her. "Come in," I 
cried. I have a slight headache and this room is
 deliciously cool and soothing. I
 was speaking, and yet I had prepared no words. "It was some time before I 
found out where my two gentlemen were living;
 but I inquired and inquired until at last I dropped across them. But the 
incident was far from being closed. See the rising sun flashes full upon it and 
sparkles
 on the golden lions. " He tossed a sheet of
 paper upon the table, and turned once more to his chemical analysis. "But we 
are
 up against it, so what's the decision?"
 
 "It seems a most questionable step," said Summerlee, argumentative to
 the last, "but if you are all going, I hardly see how I can remain
 behind. It would be likely
 to recur to a man in a delirium. I thought of my uncle
 and of his colleagues in the Cabinet, of the shame which I had brought
 upon him, upon myself, upon every one connected with me. I observe that
 there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is
 rather more to my taste than Italian or French. "
 
 The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at
 the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy
 stick in his hand. "I may say in answer to your original
 question that I have not cleared my mind entirely on the subject of
 this case, but that I have every hope of reaching some conclusion. "
 
 "We have been hearing Gregson's view of the matter," Holmes observed. "
 
 "I don't believe it. "May have its comb clipped if it make over-much noise," 
broke in an
 Englishman. "I do it, Professor Summerlee, as leader of this expedition. "
 
 "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his
 Lordship. He looked sharply from
 Holmes to me. "Mr. Holmes is walking up and down in the field outside," said 
he. An impression like a fine bundle of
 telegraph wires ran down the centre of it. I have eight or ten similar cases
 maturing. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and
 I shall continue with my miserable story. Once more I beg that
 you will say nothing of my visit. Twice
 she has been waylaid. Finally we pulled the
 boats up among the brushwood and spent the night on the bank of the
 river. It was quite a quarter of an
 hour before I got my mouth free. The
 same singularly proud and reserved nature which turned away with disdain
 from popular notoriety was capable of being moved to its depths by
 spontaneous wonder and praise from a friend. You perceive that our friend, the
 Doctor, is right, and that it readily dissolves. "
 
 "How can I come down, Zambo?"
 
 "You get creepers from trees, Massa Malone. Her husband was once mayor of 
Gloucester. He sat forward, his
 hands clasped and his forearms on his knees, with an answering smile
 upon his bold, handsome face. The ape-man pushed him roughly aside and shook 
his head. I can only claim the merit that I instantly
 reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me
 that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not
 come either from the window or the door. "
 
 At that instant there was a clatter and a rattle in the street below. They may 
find they
 have more tow on their distaff than they know how to spin. Yes, she is down in 
the morning-room
 again, and I have no doubt she will see you, but you must not ask too
 much of her, for she has gone through all that flesh and blood will
 stand. Barnicot his two statues. It had been carried out and had been
 dashed savagely against the garden wall, under which its splintered
 fragments were discovered. Is the security sufficient?'
 
 "'Ample. "You do not add imagination to your other great qualities,
 but if you could for one moment put yourself in the place of this young
 man, would you choose the very night after the will had been made to
 commit your crime? Would it not seem dangerous to you to make so very
 close a relation between the two incidents? Again, would you choose an
 occasion when you are known to be in the house, when a servant has let
 you in? And, finally, would you take the great pains to conceal the
 body, and yet leave your own stick as a sign that you were the criminal?
 Confess, Lestrade, that all this is very unlikely. Have
 the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and
 'please. "I never needed it more," said Holmes as he refreshed himself with a
 glass of claret and some biscuits in the intervals of his toilet. "You 
remember me. "Summerlee, will you step across and satisfy yourself upon the 
point?
 Malone, will you kindly verify what I say?  The little spindle-shaped
 things in the centre are diatoms and may be disregarded since they are
 probably vegetable rather than animal. "What do you claim that it was?" he 
asked. "I wired to Cambridge to learn if anything had been heard of him there. 
What say you, Simon?"
 
 "By the rood!" cried the fierce man-at-arms, "I will see the color of
 their blood ere I turn my mare's head for the mountains. "
 
 "A fight, quotha? A fight betwixt spurred cock and new hatched chicken!
 Thy fighting days may soon be over. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "We have 
got our case--one of the
 most remarkable in our collection. The
 very small inconvenience of being bitten, my young friend, cannot, I am
 sure, weigh with you as against the glorious privilege of having your
 name inscribed in the deathless roll of zoology. "
 
 "Well, I understand that they get five pounds if they can give
 information. "When he had fallen I rushed from the
 room, chose the wrong door, and found myself in my husband's room. Roylott was 
in India he married my mother, Mrs. Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do 
what I have told you,
 you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers
 that threaten you. Science is, as I understand, a sealed book to you; but you 
may
 congratulate yourself upon the hunting-field which awaits you. You
 will, no doubt, have the opportunity of describing in the Field how you
 brought down the rocketing dimorphodon. But be careful, for it is
 poisoned. "
 
 There was little fight left in the peasants, however, still dazed by the
 explosion, amazed at their own losses and disheartened by the arrival of
 the disciplined archers. "
 
 "On observing the cab I should have instantly turned and walked in the
 other direction. "How did you open it before? You have a duplicate key? Yes, 
of course
 you have. "Only about a mile, sir. Amid the action and reaction of so
 dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events
 may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be
 presented which may be striking and bizarre without being
 criminal. Two-score archers stood about the gateway, and beat back from
 time to time with their bow-staves the inquisitive and chattering crowd
 who swarmed round the portal. Ten archers, with thirty shipmen, under the 
master, may
 hold the waist while ten lie aloft with stones and arbalests. After him
 there came a second man, and after him a third, a fourth, and a fifth
 stealing across the narrow open space and darting into the shelter of
 the brushwood. To Alleyne and to John, however, it appeared
 to be as great and as stout a fortress as could be built by the hands of
 man. Yes, Lestrade, I congratulate you! With your usual
 happy mixture of cunning and audacity, you have got him. I could
 not find my stick, and he said, 'Never mind, my boy, I shall see a good
 deal of you now, I hope, and I will keep your stick until you come back
 to claim it. '
 
 "'And I,' said the son, 'seeing my father pass the door of the
 waiting-room, naturally thought that the consultation had come to an
 end. He does not
 flinch from his friend. When Cunningham saw that the case against him was so
 strong he lost all heart and made a clean breast of everything. "
 
 "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been
 making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "Why do you say so?"
 
 "A carriage heavily loaded with luggage has passed out during the last
 hour. Did you ever hear
 of Dawson and Neligan?"
 
 I could see, from Hopkins's face, that he never had, but Holmes was
 keenly interested. "
 
 "The lady could not move her bed. "
 
 "Perhaps he desires the publication of the letter. "
 
 Lord St. "I would have you bear in mind," he continued to his
 squires, "that gentle courtesy is not, as is the base use of so many
 false knights, to be shown only to maidens of high degree, for there
 is no woman so humble that a true knight may not listen to her tale of
 wrong. "To my mind the long-bow is a better weapon than the arbalest,
 but it may be ill for me to prove it. "Look at the magnificent types! Look at 
these
 two men who are coming towards us, for example. The cloud was within fifty 
yards of where we lay,
 and we glared at it, all three, uncertain what horror was about to break
 from the heart of it. ]
 
 [Footnote 3: "lodgings. HTML version by Al Haines. The Adventure of the 
Cardboard Box
 
 
 By
 
 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
 
 
 
 
 In choosing a few typical cases which illustrate the remarkable mental
 qualities of my friend, Sherlock Holmes, I have endeavoured, as far as
 possible, to select those which presented the minimum of
 sensationalism, while offering a fair field for his talents. Her face was 
turned away
 from him, but he could see, by the sharp intake of her breath, that she
 was weeping bitterly. We passed round
 the lawn to the outside of the young diplomatist's window. Then we distributed 
the various burdens among
 us--guns, ammunition, food, a tent, blankets, and the rest--and,
 shouldering our packages, we set forth upon the more laborious stage of
 our journey. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned
 home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no
 less than 26s. Greaves and knee-pieces were
 also of leather backed by steel, and their gauntlets and shoes were of
 iron plates, craftily jointed. So, with jingle of arms and clatter of
 hoofs, they rode across the Bridge of Avon, while the burghers shouted
 lustily for the flag of the five roses and its gallant guard. "
 
 "How does she live?"
 
 "I fancy old Frankland allows her a pittance, but it cannot be more,
 for his own affairs are considerably involved. In truth, it was partly for 
your own sake that I did it,
 and it was my appreciation of the danger which you ran which led me to
 come down and examine the matter for myself. A hansom was
 procured with such precaution as would prevent its being one which was
 placed ready for us, and I drove immediately after breakfast to the
 Lowther Arcade, through which I hurried at the top of my speed. After that we 
abandoned all attempt at communication. The book, however, had been left in the
 billiard-room, so I pulled on my dressing-gown and started off to get
 it. "Now," said Sir Henry Baskerville, "perhaps you will tell me, Mr. Holmes, 
what in thunder is the meaning of that, and who it is that takes
 so much interest in my affairs?"
 
 "What do you make of it, Dr. "
 
 "Why in my presence, sir?"
 
 "In case he wished to ask any questions. "You must see that this is so, madam. 
You said that you wished to
 see me here to avoid scandal. Mortimer, that you were followed this morning 
from my house?"
 
 Dr. He was a small, slim, clean-shaven, prim-faced man, flaxen-haired
 and leanjawed, between thirty and forty years of age, dressed in a gray
 suit and wearing a straw hat. "
 
 "The gun was made to conceal. "
 
 "Has Mr. "
 
 "I am not clear how you came to hear the news so early this morning. Bernstone,
 and from the Indian servant, who, Mr. It is believed, however, that
 the police have a clue as to the real culprits, and that it is being
 prosecuted by Mr. "What a pretty box!" she said, stooping over it. "It looks 
as though all the moles in England had been let loose in it. "
 
 Stapleton turned a ghastly face upon us, but by a supreme effort he had
 overcome his amazement and his disappointment. The blind theory won't do. It 
is the constant index of our limitations. There was a main gateway of 
lichen-studded
 stone, each side pillar surmounted by mouldering heraldic emblems, but
 besides this central carriage drive I observed several points where
 there were gaps in the hedge and paths leading through them. "
 
 "He had no rival?"
 
 "No, I was quite free. The old fellow clasped our hands, each in turn, while 
his men cheered
 louder than ever. He had been dead some days, but there was no wound or
 bruise upon his person to show how he had met his dreadful end. Violence
 does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls
 into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this
 creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to
 some place of shelter and let the county police know what has
 happened. This man's reference
 is to a book. Cecil Barker's tall, loose-jointed figure was a familiar one in 
the main
 street of Birlstone village; for he was a frequent and welcome visitor
 at the Manor House. Allen as a witness. As to the other servants, they had all 
gone
 to bed, and the alarm did not reach them until just before the police
 arrived. "'When did it happen, doctor?' asked Trevor. "'Almost immediately 
after you left. '
 
 "'Did he recover consciousness?'
 
 "'For an instant before the end. I have no idea what she
 meant. They were all steady, chapel-going folk,
 small farmers, well known and respected over the country-side, while I
 was always a bit of a rover. But no heroes,
 returning from a forlorn hope, could have had a warmer welcome from
 their comrades. We halted and listened. Nothing
 would annoy Brother Bartholomew more than any publicity. About three o'clock 
in the afternoon
 we came to a very steep rapid, more than a mile long--the very one in
 which Professor Challenger had suffered disaster upon his first
 journey. She
 implored me to come to bed. There is always a look of fear upon her face--a 
look
 as if she were waiting and expecting. Among these had been
 Drebber and Stangerson; and no one knew whither they had gone. In the latter, 
as may be remembered,
 Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to
 prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that
 therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a
 deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the
 case. But his words had moved McMurdo deeply. I could tell you tales of 
cobbler's wax which
 would disgust you with human nature. In the cold, morning light it was a 
fearful sight which met my
 eyes. In answer to
 Holmes, they both remembered that they were conscious of the smell of
 powder from the moment that they ran out of their rooms upon the top
 floor. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground,
 and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under
 a heavy mortgage. We are glad to learn that Mr. We are also unable to 
construct any kind of bridge
 which may take us back to the pinnacle from which we came. Here he turned 
swiftly
 down a narrow passage, passed through a wooden gate into a deserted
 yard, and then opened with a key the back door of a house. It had been a great 
day for the Scowrers. There is no sign of any other
 weapon. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the
 same as you. '
 
 "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the
 month. "
 
 "Really, Watson, you excel yourself," said Holmes, pushing back his
 chair and lighting a cigarette. "
 
 "The highest of which we have cognizance. We had all sat absorbed, listening 
to his
 extraordinary narrative. Our minds were, as
 I have said, singularly lucid. Holmes's cold, thin fingers closed round my 
wrist and led me
 forward down a long hall, until I dimly saw the murky fanlight over the
 door. "Well, well, we can't expect to have it all our own way, Watson," he
 said, at last. On the one hand, of course, I was
 glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked
 had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that
 this order might lead to other ones. If he braved the matter out, death would
 unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and
 unforeseen manner. "
 
 "Wonderful!" said Lestrade. A three-parts-parried blow drew blood
 from Alleyne's left shoulder, but at the same moment he wounded Tranter
 slightly upon the thigh. All was silent within. I determined to say nothing 
about the former to my wife, for
 she is a nervous, highly strung woman, and I had no wish that she would
 share the unpleasant impression which had been produced upon myself. "'All 
right, cabby,' said he. "I suppose he thought we had come to the hotel that he 
had mentioned,
 for he got out without another word, and followed me down the garden. They'll 
make for the
 camp as sure as fate. It will be their first idea. CHAPTER VIII. HOW SIR NIGEL 
HAWKED AT AN EAGLE. The whole vast plain of Gascony and of Languedoc is an arid 
and
 profitless expanse in winter save where the swift-flowing Adour and her
 snow-fed tributaries, the Louts, the Oloron and the Pau, run down to
 the sea of Biscay. She advanced along this corridor,
 leaving no traces upon the cocoanut matting. "
 
 "Exactly. Now he sat forward in this arm-chair
 and spread out the documents upon his knees. "
 
 His eyes fairly glittered as he spoke, and he put his hand over his
 heart and bowed as if to some applauding crowd conjured up by his
 imagination. Mrs. Allen, the
 housekeeper, came and took her away. The other six servants in the house bear 
no
 relation to the events of the night of January 6th. This barricaded door 
corresponded clearly with the
 shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from
 beneath it that the room was not in darkness. I may mention that
 her husband had left her comfortably off, and that she had a capital of
 about four thousand five hundred pounds, which had been so well invested
 by him that it returned an average of seven per cent. I had just time to blow 
on my police-whistle, and then I must
 have fainted, for I knew nothing more until I found the policeman
 standing over me in the hall. '
 
 "'It's a dirty business,' the other answered. 'Well, I'm
 delighted to have got so good a man for my brother. ' 'Canst shake me by the 
hand without coming in,'
 said Gourval. Illingworth was imperfectly heard in part of his remarks on
 account of the strenuous opposition of the friends of the explorers. 
Thenceforward
 that was our one safety, and every strained situation was relieved by
 our introducing the name of the Scotch zoologist, when both our
 Professors would form a temporary alliance and friendship in their
 detestation and abuse of this common rival. Advancing in single file along the 
bank of the stream, we soon found
 that it narrowed down to a mere brook, and finally that it lost itself
 in a great green morass of sponge-like mosses, into which we sank up to
 our knees. The place was horribly haunted by clouds of mosquitoes and
 every form of flying pest, so we were glad to find solid ground again
 and to make a circuit among the trees, which enabled us to outflank
 this pestilent morass, which droned like an organ in the distance, so
 loud was it with insect life. This, you see, is dated from
 Marseilles at nine-forty-five this morning. There was no key, but it was of 
considerable weight, so
 we transferred it carefully to our own little cabin. "
 
 "Then, by St. "Bide here, man. If blows be
 what you seek, you need not go further than Hordle. Anyhow, I can't leave here 
myself until I am
 relieved. I had them washed out, and I only mentioned
 the matter to my wife afterwards. I refused, as you can imagine, and asked my 
father how he
 could allow such a wretch to take such liberties with himself and his
 household. I traced her!
 I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here. Now, if this letter were 
loose--no, it CAN'T be
 loose--but if it isn't loose, where can it be? Who has it? Why is it
 held back? That's the question that beats in my brain like a hammer. I must 
beg you to hurry, for we have a great day before
 us. He's a
 likely lad, and he's a Christian, which is more than these folk here, in
 spite o' all their praying and preaching. But at night--well, there he is with
 his wife, three children, and a hired help. "
 
 "Altamont has a nice taste in wines, and he took a fancy to my Tokay. It must 
be done at once. Am I right, Professor Summerlee?"
 
 Summerlee grumbled an ungracious assent. "I am with you,
 like hilt to blade. "Possibly not, my good Watson. "I used to be frightened," 
said his wife. When you see him, ask him if he
 remembers the Jefferson Hopes of St. His wet
 clothing showed that he had been out in the storm of the night before,
 and his stick, which was a Penang-lawyer weighted with lead, was just
 such a weapon as might, by repeated blows, have inflicted the terrible
 injuries to which the trainer had succumbed. He would be overjoyed. He was of 
a sickly color, and his
 thin, sandy hair seemed to bristle up with the intensity of his emotion. To 
his right walked a huge red-headed man, with
 broad smile and merry twinkle, whose clothes seemed to be bursting and
 splitting at every seam, as though he were some lusty chick who was
 breaking bravely from his shell. Alleyne was plodding down the slope upon one 
side, when he saw
 an old dame coming towards him upon the other, limping with weariness
 and leaning heavily upon a stick. Yet to him, used as he was to a life of such 
quiet
 that the failure of a brewing or the altering of an anthem had seemed
 to be of the deepest import, the quick changing play of the lights and
 shadows of life was strangely startling and interesting. So I think, and so,
 too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into
 character. The peasant in the sheepskins, who had
 sat glum and silent all evening, had been so heated by his flagon of ale
 that he was talking loudly and angrily with clenched hands and flashing
 eyes. All was in keeping with a
 solemn butler who appeared framed in the pink radiance of a tinted
 electrical light behind him. "
 
 With a few broken words of gratitude the man turned, but he hesitated
 and then came back. "By the way," he continued, coming back to his chair, 
"what do you know
 of this Professor Challenger?"
 
 "I never saw him till to-day. "But I learned how to make the
 long shoot from old Hob Miller of Milford. I give you
 my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at
 the Assizes. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that
 it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before
 us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in
 the inquest, and which are worth considering. "
 
 "Except Mr. "There are stories of her which I would fain disbelieve--stories 
that
 she is sealed to some Gentile. "
 
 "But how?"
 
 "Through the skylight. "Then you will be able to get his opeenions out of him. 
The lady shook her head. It is not what we know, but what we can prove. Remi, 
and
 we had gone, my little helper and I, to see if it was indeed of the size
 for the stonework. Night had fallen ere we finished, and what could we
 do save carry it home as best we might? But you, young sir, you speak as
 if you too knew something of the art. What could I do? I could not
 shoot him at sight, or I should myself be in the dock. And so, gentlemen, you
 can do what you please; but I've told you the truth and the whole truth,
 so help me God! What I ask you now is how do I stand by the English
 law?"
 
 There was a silence which was broken by Sherlock Holmes. "
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Produced by David Brannan. "May I ask how you knew who I
 was?"
 
 "Well, sir, if it isn't too great a liberty, I am a neighbour of yours,
 for you'll find my little bookshop at the corner of Church Street,
 and very happy to see you, I am sure. Sherlock Holmes?" he said to the cabman. 
"I told you that, whatever happened, Lestrade and Gregson would be sure
 to score. "
 
 Holmes and I followed them down the lane, and my friend plucked at my
 sleeve as we came out. "Well, our rope is still more than a hundred feet 
long," I cried. "
 
 "Admirable, Watson!  Admirable!  You are the best of messengers. "Was he in 
favour of such a
 union?"
 
 "No, he was averse to it also. "
 
 "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon
 have some good news for you. I could see that the
 problem was entirely to his heart. I didn't know what to do. That
 night I was happy, for I had my letter, and I had not seen yet what the
 future would bring. But a horrible abyss lay
 between it and the plateau. "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. 
'Punishment has been slow in coming, but it
 has overtaken you at last. ' I saw his coward lips tremble as I spoke. My data 
were coming more quickly
 than I could have reasonably hoped. "
 
 "Deserted you?"
 
 "Yes. "
 
 "If it is not too much trouble. )  "Then I put you to the test. (Laughter. )  
It was
 strange to think that the climax of all the age-long process of Nature
 had been the creation of that gentleman in the red tie. What is the particular 
point upon which I, as an original investigator,
 have challenged our lecturer's accuracy?  It is upon the permanence of
 certain types of animal life upon the earth. "And the other upon the right?"
 
 "It marks the Knights of Santiago, and I see by his flag that their
 grand-master rides at their head. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us
 all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this
 advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note,
 Doctor, of the paper and the date. Your hand stole
 towards your own old wound, and a smile quivered on your lips,
 which showed me that the ridiculous side of this method of settling
 international questions had forced itself upon your mind. "
 
 "Besides," said John, "the Socman of Minstead is a by-word through the
 forest, from Bramshaw Hill to Holmesley Walk. Hold up, man, hold up, you
 have no life left in you. "I've offered to fight him if he thinks I have 
wronged him," said
 McMurdo. "
 
 "But, I say," remarked the police sergeant, whose slow, bucolic common
 sense was still pondering the open window. "
 
 "Well, since you never said so, and Mr. I shall have the others, but he first. 
Anyhow, they had
 come there during the night. I'd recognized
 him in the township, and again when he sprang for me; but his own mother
 wouldn't recognize him as I saw him then. I got into his room that same night, 
though,
 and I searched his papers to see if there was any record of where he
 had hidden our jewels. The whole place was depressing. Nowhere
 in the blue heaven or on the sunlit earth was there any foreshadowing of
 a catastrophe. The harvesters were back in the fields once more and the
 golfers, in pairs and fours, were still streaming round the links. See how 
they rush and scream and wave! What is it that they
 thrust out through the postern door? My God! it is a man-at-arms, and
 they pluck him limb from limb like hounds on a wolf. The town was now at the 
height of its
 fortunes. He had probably
 been in the pay of Moriarty, and had left the two men together. Upon rising 
next morning he found, to his surprise,
 a small square of paper pinned on to the coverlet of his bed just over
 his chest. My surprise reached a climax, however,
 when I found incidentally that he was ignorant of the Copernican Theory
 and of the composition of the Solar System. "
 
 "Nay, trouble not for that," said Alleyne, "we are all from good mother
 Eve. Let him go. "
 
 "Nay, there is but one thing that can draw the sting, and that the
 future may bring to me. Staunton in London?"
 
 "Certainly not. "
 
 "Dear me, dear me--the postoffice again!" Holmes sighed, wearily. There was no 
light save in the dining-room, but Holmes caught
 up the lamp and left no corner of the house unexplored. Give me a hand, 
Watson, and I'll do the same for you. "
 
 A minute later we were both in the area. "The higher
 the steed the greater the fall. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the 
great House
 of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia. My first impulse was to tell Sir 
Henry all my plans. "
 
 "I fear it is too deep a case for such simple remedies," said Holmes. "
 
 Sherlock Holmes laughed heartily. I had something else to think of. Someone 
had brought the water from the brook, and Lord John
 was sprinkling my head with it, while Challenger and Summerlee were
 propping me up, with concern in their faces. I expect it's that young garden 
boy, sir. My friend volunteered to go and see. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SIX 
NAPOLEONS
 
 
 It was no very unusual thing for Mr. His increasing fame had brought with it
 an immense practice, and I should be guilty of an indiscretion if I
 were even to hint at the identity of some of the illustrious clients who
 crossed our humble threshold in Baker Street. He
 had played nearly every day at one club or other, but he was a cautious
 player, and usually rose a winner. The chapman broke a rough jest as he
 passed, and the woman called shrilly to Alleyne to come and join them,
 on which the man, turning suddenly from mirth to wrath, began to belabor
 her with his cudgel. What he will divulge I cannot tell, but I have
 no doubt that your Grace could make him understand that it is to his
 interest to be silent. And yet, in spite of
 all these disadvantages, there was a certain nobility in the woman's
 bearing--a gallantry in the defiant chin and in the upraised head, which
 compelled something of respect and admiration. Barker, I seem to be standing 
rather in the way of your
 explanation. He intercepted Mrs. Out we ran,
 and there on the poop were the lieutenant and ten of his men. It is true
 that in some cases the figure was bearing a flag, and in some cases not,
 but it was probable, from the way in which the flags were distributed,
 that they were used to break the sentence up into words. Holmes had
 already drawn his revolver, and I whipped out mine at the sight of this
 savage, distorted creature. "Anything remarkable on hand?" he asked. "
 
 "In the first place," said Holmes, "I should like you to offer a
 reward--coming from yourself, for the officials may take a little time
 before they would agree upon the sum, and these things cannot be done
 too promptly. This chance of the picture has supplied us with one of our
 most obvious missing links. In more
 fertile spots the observer would have come to the conclusion that one
 of those great herds of bisons which graze upon the prairie land was
 approaching him. "What has he been doing?"
 
 "Haven't you seen his letter on 'Scientific Possibeelities' in to-day's
 Times?"
 
 "No. "I wired to Cambridge to learn if anything had been heard of him there. 
This time there was loud applause. You need not stand on
 ceremony with us, Challenger. He had signed it in behalf of himself and his
 associates,--the sign of the four, as he somewhat dramatically called
 it. He was of a sickly color, and his
 thin, sandy hair seemed to bristle up with the intensity of his emotion. He 
deals with no niggard
 hand. He was clad in a professional but rather slovenly
 fashion, for his frock-coat was dingy and his trousers frayed. "Really, Mr. 
Holmes," said Mr. "Well, maybe a wee nip would keep out the raw morning chill. 
We pulled up halfway down the street and waited an hour and a half. "
 
 "Indeed, I have nothing more to tell. "
 
 It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped
 cravats about our throats. Perhaps I have dwelt too long upon this new 
acquaintance, but he is to
 be my comrade for many a day, and so I have tried to set him down as I
 first saw him, with his quaint personality and his queer little tricks
 of speech and of thought. If not, why should you come to consult me?"
 
 "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. "
 
 When we met again next evening, Lestrade was furnished with much
 information concerning our prisoner. Holmes thought for a little. "My dear 
Watson," said the well-remembered voice, "I owe you a thousand
 apologies. At eleven there was a fight at the 'White
 Hart'; but bar that all was quiet enough on the beat. His brow glistened with
 perspiration, his cheeks were of the dull, dead white of a fish's belly,
 and his eyes were wild and staring. His shoes were of red
 leather, daintily pointed at the toes, but not yet prolonged to the
 extravagant lengths which the succeeding reign was to bring into
 fashion. At the end of that time there was a universal rising against
 him. Halfway down is the moor-gate, where
 the old gentleman left his cigar-ash. Miss Cushing was sitting in
 the front room, into which we were ushered. She was a placid-faced
 woman, with large, gentle eyes, and grizzled hair curving down over her
 temples on each side. "
 
 "And how in the world did you find them?"
 
 "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held
 information in his hands the value of which he did not himself
 know. "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your
 narrative. Come with me, and I'll fix it up as easily as
 possible. '
 
 
 "From that day, amid all his cordiality, there was always a touch of
 suspicion in Mr. 'That is my own photograph,' she said. How are
 Ayrshires?'
 
 "'A hundred and six and a quarter to a hundred and five and
 seven-eighths. How England held the Lists at Bordeaux
 XXIV. "
 
 McArdle was plunged in thought for some minutes. What is that black thing down 
there?"
 
 "A water-barrel. There were two guides
 given us to start with, an oak and an elm. Now I was in the last belt of trees 
which separated me
 from Fort Challenger. Down they swooped, one on the right, one on the left, the
 sides and shrouds black with men and bristling with weapons. I
 went to the edge of the plateau and looked over. Tonga then pulled up the 
rope, closed the
 window, and made off the way that he had come. "I don't know that I have 
anything else to tell you. "You
 are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself
 a monotonous occupation. What became of the hound when its master was in 
London?"
 
 "I have given some attention to this matter and it is undoubtedly of
 importance. By St. Let a man love the sex. It is Winwood Reade's 'Martyrdom of 
Man. "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias
 and my father Joseph. Then from the
 moneys he shall take as much as may make good the damage, and the rest
 he shall keep until our home-coming, when every man shall have his
 share. Hudson?'  And now he has slammed off to his room, but I can
 hear him walking away the same as ever. I hope he's not going to be
 ill, sir. "
 
 "No, I wrote upon the day before. Among these he rummaged
 and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until
 we were past Reading. He has been upon
 several scientific expeditions in his youth (he was with Robertson in
 Papua), and the life of the camp and the canoe is nothing fresh to him. The 
silence of the
 deserted street reassured him. What the phrase meant, or who our secret
 visitor may have been, we never knew. That the writer was on board of a ship. 
But it's the real goods, and you can lay to that. On the evening of the second 
there came a letter from
 Hilton Cubitt. Holmes had sat down again
 after one of these excursions, when he suddenly sprang out of his chair
 with a loud exclamation. "This will do," said he. "I must ask you, Professor 
Challenger, to cease these ignorant and
 unmannerly interruptions. Consider my sweet lord, that you
 have already won much honor, that we have seen but little of each other,
 that you bear upon your body the scar of over twenty wounds received
 in I know not how many bloody encounters. Have you not done enough for
 honor and the public cause?"
 
 "My lady, when our liege lord, the king, at three score years, and my
 Lord Chandos at three-score and ten, are blithe and ready to lay lance
 in rest for England's cause, it would ill be-seem me to prate of service
 done. Barrymore, Sir Charles's butler, is a man
 with a full, black beard. Her bulky figure in a shawl and skirt might have 
been comic
 were it not for the intensity of feeling upon her face. So far I had got
 before I ever heard Lord St. Let us thank God if we have outgrown
 their vices. Where is my
 Lord Chandos? Ha, Sir John, I commend this worthy knight to your care. "
 
 In a few sentences I whispered what I had done. And all the rest of
 your money in your left trouser pocket. What is the scientific mind to think 
of their
 presence?  I can only account for it by an invasion from outside. If your 
heart is as big as your body, and
 your soul as fine as your face, then I'd ask for nothing better," said
 McMurdo. "
 
 "You think then, definitely, that Barker and Mrs. Well, here's your good 
health landlord,
 and prosperity to your house. Here and there the wooded hills rose like conical
 islands out of this woolly sea. For months my life was despaired of, and
 when at last I came to myself and became convalescent, I was so weak and
 emaciated that a medical board determined that not a day should be lost
 in sending me back to England. But the paper was uninteresting. It
 might happen that, should he amass riches by some happy fortune of war,
 this feud might hold the two families aloof. "
 
 "God bless you, Anna!" murmured the old man again. Keep your revolver near you 
night and day, and never
 relax your precautions. "
 
 "Good heavens, Holmes!  Do you suppose that such a consideration weighs
 with me of an instant?  It would not affect me in the case of a
 stranger. He passed the sign, and
 then seating himself opposite to the young man he looked at him steadily
 for some time, a look which was as steadily returned. "I will go, Mr. Grimesby 
Roylott, of Stoke Moran. The boy had some
 slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard
 the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which
 he shook his clinched fists at him. The curved
 and shadowed drive led us to a low, dark house, pitch-black against a
 slate-coloured sky. There he was dogged by his confederate, who held Beppo
 responsible for the loss of the pearl, and he stabbed him in the scuffle
 which followed. "
 
 MacDonald shook his head. But before we start I must ask you
 a few questions, Mr. Browner a few
 days afterwards. Then we went on to
 Wallington to visit Miss Sarah. "
 
 "But why then rather than now?"
 
 "Because we shall have nightfall to cover us when we draw off, so that
 we may make our way back through the mountains. It is true that the 
description of this
 man tallies with your idea of the second party in this mystery. "I believe it 
is the same place as the painted picture," said I. The young woman came to the 
door last
 evening--mistook the house, she did. I
 found that the key was indeed his, that he had entered my room to know
 if I wanted tea, and that he had very carelessly left the key in the
 door when he came out. Let them toil and swinken, and labor,
 and plough the land, and take wives to themselves----"
 
 "Alas! alas!" cried Alleyne aghast, "you have surely sucked this poison
 from the man Wicliffe, of whom I have heard such evil things. "
 
 He held down the lamp to the floor, and as he did so I saw for the
 second time that night a startled, surprised look come over his face. You have 
been porter?"
 
 "Yes, father. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I did not know what to do. We 
are both prepared to swear that no
 one could have entered the room during the night. "
 
 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. "And where are you going?"
 
 "We do not know. My tongue is a blunt
 one, and fitter to shout word of command than to clear up such a matter
 as this, of which I can myself understand little. As for myself, I was silent, 
for the dull weather and the
 melancholy business upon which we were engaged, depressed my spirits. Here you 
find us; and we cannot wonder that you, who are new to
 tumbling, should be astounded, since many great barons, earls, marshals
 and knights, who have wandered as far as the Holy Land, are of one
 mind in saying that they have never seen a more noble or gracious
 performance. Holy Virgin! see the dust upon thy doublet! It were easy to see 
that
 there is no woman to tend to thee. So!--that is better. Now buss me,
 boy. The old soldiers of
 Crecy, of Nogent, and of Poictiers were glad to think that they might
 hear the war-trumpet once more, and gladder still were the hot youth who
 had chafed for years under the martial tales of their sires. "Dark nights are 
unpleasant," said the workman. "Yes, for strangers to travel," the other 
answered. Old Acton, who is one of
 our county magnates, had his house broken into last Monday. No great
 damage done, but the fellows are still at large. "
 
 "There can be no doubt of that," said Summerlee, grimly, "for one has
 just disappeared behind your shirt-collar. Turner
 made his money. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the
 families. "
 
 "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Call it crime!" cried Morris, his voice 
vibrating with passion. "You
 have seen little of it if you can call it anything else. "I had misjudged you. 
The Greek e with the peculiar top flourish is distinctive. Right glad was the
 traveller to see the high tower of Christchurch Priory gleaming in the
 mellow evening light, and gladder still when, on rounding a corner, he
 came upon his comrades of the morning seated astraddle upon a fallen
 tree. Holmes gave a cry
 of delight as he approached it. Outside the
 wind howled down Baker Street, while the rain beat fiercely against the
 windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come
 to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet
 of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them
 once more. "
 
 "Liar!" cried the woman; and, stooping her head, she suddenly bit
 fiercely into the broad brown hand which held her. He was a tall,
 handsome, swarthy fellow, clad in a suit of gray flannel, with a Panama
 hat, a bristling black beard, and a great, aggressive hooked nose, and
 flourishing a cane as he walked. This side of his nature,
 however, appears never to have been turned towards his wife. A patient, 
evidently, and possibly an
 all-night sitting. He was dressed
 from head to foot in a long white linen cloth, and a high white cap
 with a red cross printed upon it. The ALIBI
 was complete. We had been out for one of our evening rambles, Holmes and I, 
and had
 returned about six o'clock on a cold, frosty winter's evening. Along it we 
hurried in
 breathless impatience for many hundreds of yards. Then, suddenly, in
 the black darkness of the arch in front of us we saw a gleam of dark
 red light. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. "
 
 "Time it is," said Lord John. "
 
 "Have you any reason to suspect robbery?"
 
 "No, sir. "
 
 "Did any of them know their way about in the office?"
 
 "Oh, yes, all of them had been shown over it. "You're crazy!" he cried, 
fiercely. "Well, I guess you have every
 cause to be. "If
 you all want to see it through I am with you. "Good lad!" whispered Ford. "
 
 "So it appears. You came back by an unexpected way, and so
 he had no warning until you were at the very door. Those rules of deduction 
laid down in that article which aroused your
 scorn, are invaluable to me in practical work. "
 
 "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. "
 
 "By the Virgin! when he learns that you have come to draw away these
 rascals he will be very blithe to look upon your face. But if it was about a 
boat,
 sir, maybe I could serve as well. It is a sad thing that so small a
 thing as a woman should come between two who are of one blood. If we make one
 false move the villain may escape us yet. But say nothing to anyone upon
 the matter. "
 
 "Good God!" I cried. "
 
 "I see. When a woman thinks that her house is on
 fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she
 values most. "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one,
 Mr. "
 
 "Very curious, and the story that hangs round it will strike you as
 being more curious still. St. Clair had her lunch, started for
 the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office,
 got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through
 Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. But our
 trap should be here. They were numerous, resolute, and well armed. At last, 
however, when I was about
 eighteen, I gave them no more trouble, for I got into a mess over a
 girl, and could only get out of it again by taking the queen's shilling
 and joining the 3d Buffs, which was just starting for India. I had no great 
difficulty in finding where Sholto lived, and I set to
 work to discover whether he had realized the treasure, or if he still
 had it. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that
 it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before
 us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in
 the inquest, and which are worth considering. That one
 is politics. "
 
 The woman's words came with an intense earnestness which carried
 conviction with them. "
 
 He relapsed at once into the half-humorous, half-cynical vein which was
 his habitual attitude to those about him. The American struck his hands 
together with vexation. On the first page
 were written the initials "J. "What we pay rates and
 taxes for I don't know, when any ruffian can come in and break one's
 goods. Perhaps we
 shall come upon some other indications as we proceed. God He knows that I am 
unworthy of such honor, yet I can show my
 four-and-sixty quarterings, and I have been present at some bickerings
 and scufflings during these twenty years. "
 
 "Your fame is very well known to me, and I shall ask my lady to enter
 your name upon my tablets," said Sir Bertrand. "
 
 "Yes. "
 
 "Good heaven! Did no one examine?"
 
 "Yes, I examined, myself. "It's all very well your
 saying that a man escaped by wading this moat, but what I ask you is,
 how did he ever get into the house at all if the bridge was up?"
 
 "Ah, that's the question," said Barker. "I
 never saw anything like it. Your powers, if I may say so without offence, seem
 superior to your opportunities. "Pierrot. "Then comes:
 
 "Matter presses. We could use the dining room, Ames. "
 
 "By heaven, yes!" cried the prince. "You base underbred clod! Is this your 
care and
 your hospitality? I would rather wed a branded serf from my father's
 fields. "And you accept the rule of the Bodymaster for the time being under all
 circumstances?"
 
 "I do. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely
 upon an income of about 60 pounds. ' He took a step backward, cocked his head 
on one side, and
 gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. )
 
 "PROFESSOR CHALLENGER:  'No doubt, sir, we have to bow to your
 scientific authority, although I must admit that the name is
 unfamiliar. (Laughter. )  It was
 strange to think that the climax of all the age-long process of Nature
 had been the creation of that gentleman in the red tie. )  "Let me pass to 
some subject of wider interest. Now four men said other and more startling 
ones. Lord John comes over to me, and we look out together into the
 night. To us the chapter seemed closed. "
 
 The bowman shook his head. I have a confused memory, too, of having
 been lifted and conveyed somewhere. "
 
 "That is a very strong prod of yours," said Johnston, shaking his
 grizzled head as he glanced at the thick arch and powerful strings of
 his rival's arbalest. "I fancy that I see your Grace's check-book upon the 
table," said he. Melas to step across," said he. He earns his living
 partly as interpreter in the law courts and partly by acting as guide to
 any wealthy Orientals who may visit the Northumberland Avenue hotels. His 
paper stands for all
 that is solid in the valley. Behind him walked a smaller man with his
 hair touched with gray, who was clad in the same white garb. Below on either 
side
 of the steps were forty or fifty barons, knights, and courtiers, ranged
 in a triple row to the right and the left, with a clear passage in the
 centre. McMurdo had laid down the paper, and was lighting his pipe with a hand
 which was shaky from the excesses of the previous evening, when there
 was a knock outside, and his landlady brought to him a note which had
 just been handed in by a lad. A man
 in uniform advanced into the room, a six-shooter in his hand. "
 
 "That won't do, my dear Watson," said Holmes, shaking his head, "for no
 amount of IDEE FIXE would enable your interesting monomaniac to find out
 where these busts were situated. I gripped myself hard, and went on
 with the argument. But the vow is now nought, for, as you have
 never seen your company, it would be a fool's act to blame you for their
 doings. McMurdo listened at the door of the lonely house; but all was still
 within. The police seemed to take
 particular interest in him that morning, and Captain Marvin--he who had
 claimed the old acquaintance with him at Chicago--actually addressed him
 as he waited at the station. "
 
 Holmes shook his head impatiently. Sherlock
 Holmes a puzzled quarter of an hour. I stood upon the hearth-rug and picked up 
the
 stick which our visitor had left behind him the night before. "
 
 "By the Lord, you'll be a man after McGinty's heart!"
 
 "What, does he hate the police too?"
 
 Scanlan burst out laughing. "Oh, spare me, Mr. "You've come to that
 already, have you?"
 
 "Oh, Ted, be reasonable--be kind! For my sake, Ted, if ever you loved
 me, be big-hearted and forgiving!"
 
 "I think, Ettie, that if you were to leave us alone we could get this
 thing settled," said McMurdo quietly. My word! it was a good bit of work!"
 
 "Admirable!" cried Challenger. The work
 itself, the pleasure of finding a field for my peculiar powers, is my
 highest reward. "
 
 "Certainly. "
 
 "Then I must go to his room. "In the first place, your Grace, I am bound to
 tell you that you have placed yourself in a most serious position in
 the eyes of the law. "
 
 "To some extent," he answered, thoughtfully. And now, Watson, let us have a 
little stroll round in
 the sunshine. He sends me a thousand at a time, and I grieve to say that I
 have to arrange for a fresh supply every fortnight. When we turned
 him over, the Boots recognized him at once as being the same gentleman
 who had engaged the room under the name of Joseph Stangerson. I will tell, 
too, of the great
 nocturnal white thing--to this day we do not know whether it was beast
 or reptile--which lived in a vile swamp to the east of the lake, and
 flitted about with a faint phosphorescent glimmer in the darkness. "
 
 Summerlee, with a twisted smile, was about to make some fresh assault
 when Lord John hastened to intervene. "By my hilt! mon
 gar. "I
 never thought I'd live to take the whole human race in one load. But my lips 
are sealed. "
 
 It was the most that Ettie could obtain, and yet it was something. "I would 
have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. "Here,"
 said I, pointing to some matches upon the ground, "is where we lit up. "
 
 "Exactly. "Come, Watson, I
 don't think we shall be wanted in Aldershot any more. "The game is afoot. 
"Precisely. "Now would you mind going down and
 fetching that poor little devil of a terrier which has been bad so long,
 and which the landlady wanted you to put out of its pain yesterday. Lack-brain 
she is, and
 lack-brain I shall call her. "
 
 Such was a sample of the sudden janglings which marred the peace of that
 little class. John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over
 this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond
 that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in
 many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of
 the Red-headed League. He was born in '45--fifty years of age. He
 is a Russian. A subtle
 change had come over him. This
 time it was the young lady coming from the station. It is a short
 account of the facts elicited at the death of Sir Charles Baskerville
 which occurred a few days before that date. Suddenly this morning it occurred 
to
 me that you were the man to advise me, so I have hurried to you now, and
 I place myself unreservedly in your hands. In shape they were like horrible
 toads, and moved in a succession of springs, but in size they were of
 an incredible bulk, larger than the largest elephant. On the other hand, 
Alleyne had used his weapons in constant
 exercise and practice on every day for many months, and being by nature
 quick of eye and prompt of hand, he might pass now as no mean swordsman. 
"Points," he muttered; "the points. "
 
 "What of it?  What do you mean?"
 
 "I suppose there are no great number of points on a system such as
 this?"
 
 "No; they are very few. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of
 dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark,
 shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. When I came down to our room 
I found the breakfast laid
 and Homes pouring out the coffee. Was he our malignant enemy, or was he by
 chance our guardian angel? I swore that I would not leave the hut until
 I knew. "
 
 "Tall? Handsome?"
 
 "Yes, sir, she was a well-grown young woman. "Man, you are surely travelling 
overfast,"
 said he. "I have heard no evidence yet that any stranger was ever in the
 house at all. I shall write to Mr. "
 
 "But you must--you, with your beauty, with your soul!  Oh, Gladys, you
 were made for love!  You must love!"
 
 "One must wait till it comes. It was not a pure bloodhound and it was not a 
pure
 mastiff; but it appeared to be a combination of the two--gaunt, savage,
 and as large as a small lioness. Suddenly this morning it occurred to
 me that you were the man to advise me, so I have hurried to you now, and
 I place myself unreservedly in your hands. At first it was but a lurid spark 
upon the stone pavement. Between
 them stood a lean, white-faced brother who appeared to be ill at ease,
 shifting his feet from side to side and tapping his chin nervously with
 the long parchment roll which he held in his hand. A jupon of dark blue cloth, 
tagged with buckles and pendants of
 gold, seemed but a sombre and plain attire amidst the wealth of silk and
 ermine and gilt tissue of fustian with which he was surrounded. "
 
 "And now?" I asked. Supposing I unravel the
 whole matter, you may be sure that Gregson, Lestrade, and Co. "Is he on his 
own or is he
 entirely in with them?"
 
 "I really don't know that I should be justified in discussing such a
 point. "No, it certainly is not. "
 
 "With all these data you should be able to draw some just inference. "I think 
it may be fairly assumed that if it does not come outwards it
 must run inwards. "Well, Holmes," said Athelney Jones, "You are a man to be 
humored, and
 we all know that you are a connoisseur of crime, but duty is duty, and
 I have gone rather far in doing what you and your friend asked me. I was a 
harum-scarum, reckless lad, and he had had an
 education, and was already marked for the sword-belt. I owe you too much
 to act otherwise; for in all my experience I cannot recall any more
 singular and interesting study. "
 
 "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?"
 
 "A fair dowry. Come out for the love and the lust of the
 thing. "
 
 We started off for the cab together, leaving our informant incredulous,
 but obviously uncomfortable. "
 
 "There are none. "Sweet little coz!" answered the burly squire. "Such a dainty 
color!
 Such a mellow voice! Eyes of a bashful maid, and hair like a three
 years' babe! Voila!" He passed his thick fingers roughly through the
 youth's crisp golden curls. "You seek to force a quarrel, sir," said the young 
man, white with
 anger. "So Reuben
 Hayes is taken? I am right glad to hear it, if it will not react upon
 the fate of James. The idea
 was that one of you was to marry her, and the other have a share of the
 plunder. The fugitive sprang out, but his stump instantly sank its whole length
 into the sodden soil. From over a distant rise there floated a
 gray plume of smoke. "It is Mrs. He asked me to come here to cure him. 
"Really, Mr. Holmes, I cannot undertake to say. "
 
 After an hour's delay, the great nobleman appeared. "
 
 The American's face showed his surprise and admiration. "
 
 "And are you, too, of the White Company?" asked Sir Nigel. "I have had 
advertisements
 sent to all the newspapers, and one of my men has gone to the American
 Exchange, but he has not returned yet. For myself, I don't believe it was an 
ordinary
 thief. But how was it at Winchelsea when their galleys came down upon it
 some few years back? I had an old mother there, lad, who had come down
 thither from the Midlands to be the nearer her son. Soames's back was turned, 
you released the man who was hiding
 in that bedroom. "
 
 Bannister licked his dry lips. In the morning, after a frugal breakfast of 
coffee and manioc--we had
 to be economical of our stores--we held a council of war as to the best
 method of ascending to the plateau above us. What was the benefit
 of a law written fair upon parchment, he wondered, if there were no
 officers to enforce it. "Personally, I am unable to classify the creature with 
any certainty,"
 said Summerlee, lighting his pipe from the fire. "In refusing to commit 
yourself you are but showing a proper scientific
 reserve," said Challenger, with massive condescension. And yet Goodwin 
Hawtayne is not the man to stand back when his fellows
 are for pressing forward. I found myself weary and yet wakeful,
 tossing restlessly from side to side, seeking for the sleep which would
 not come. "
 
 She glanced at the iron box. Then, with a
 kindly smile, he slapped Professor Summerlee upon his shoulder. What sort of a 
menage is it which pays double
 the market price for a governess but does not keep a horse, although six
 miles from the station? Odd, Watson--very odd!"
 
 "You will go down?"
 
 "No, my dear fellow, YOU will go down. The various checks which influence the
 struggle for existence in the world at large are all neutralized or
 altered. Pulling up his steed, he slightly inclined his head, and
 sat in the stern and composed fashion with which he had borne himself
 throughout, heedless of the applauding shouts and the flutter of
 kerchiefs from the long lines of brave men and of fair women who were
 looking down upon him. "Sir knight," said the prince, "we have all marvelled 
this day at this
 great skill and valor with which God has been pleased to endow you. "Sir James 
died this
 morning. "Sir Nigel Loring, at last! By my soul we have
 awaited you this month past. "
 
 "Good heavens!" cried Holmes in amazement. "
 
 "But why can't you love me, Gladys?  Is it my appearance, or what?"
 
 She did unbend a little. "I think, perhaps, we had better go down to 
Tredannick Wartha without
 further delay. I heard my wife coming, and I ran to the door and stopped her. 
But I must speak or I shall be too late. Is he not the celebrated author
 of The Dynamics of an Asteroid, a book which ascends to such rarefied
 heights of pure mathematics that it is said that there was no man in the
 scientific press capable of criticizing it? Is this a man to traduce?
 Foul-mouthed doctor and slandered professor--such would be your
 respective roles! That's genius, Watson. "
 
 "It is not easy to express the inexpressible," he answered with a laugh. "If 
you could see your way, sir, to confining your remarks to your own
 physical peculiarities, you would find that you had an ample field for
 comment," he cried. But if it does go through and comes out at the 
corresponding point
 on the other side, we should not have more than a hundred feet to
 descend. "Give me the
 water!" he gasped. I handed it to him. It is very probable,
 therefore, that in the absence of his master it was he who cared for the
 hound, though he may never have known the purpose for which the beast
 was used. He knew that I would do what I
 said--that his own fate was involved in mine. All this is the truth, and if I 
tell it to you, gentlemen, it
 is not to amuse you,--for you have not done me a very good turn,--but
 it is because I believe the best defence I can make is just to hold
 back nothing, but let all the world know how badly I have myself been
 served by Major Sholto, and how innocent I am of the death of his son. My host
 had shown me which was his bedroom the night before, so I knocked at
 the door. But the long
 cactus-strewn levels still stretched away, empty and bare, to the
 distant line of the cane-brake. "Well, there's no need for me to dwell on that 
part of it. He flew at me with his knife, and I had to grasp him
 twice, and got a cut over the knuckles, before I had the upper hand of
 him. Of course this Acton
 business has put every one on their guard. Every good stone is. Every string 
well locked. It
 was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. It is the supposed 
murder of Colonel
 Barclay, of the Royal Munsters, at Aldershot, which I am investigating. Two 
thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can
 only touch the interest. "What is the use of returning?" he said. "Why, that's 
true, sir," he said; "though how you come to know it,
 Heaven only knows. Then he peered into the
 darkness, blew the candle out, and threw it on the floor. "It is a lovely 
evening, my dear Watson," said a well-known voice. I have seen something of the 
sort on the side of a hill near Ballarat,
 where the prospectors had been at work. He is not an Englishman. Our father 
would never
 tell us what it was he feared, but he had a most marked aversion to men
 with wooden legs. He found the door open, and in the front room, which is bare
 of furniture, discovered the body of a gentleman, well dressed, and
 having cards in his pocket bearing the name of 'Enoch J. What the scene meant 
I could not imagine, but it seemed to me that
 Stapleton was abusing Sir Henry, who offered explanations, which became
 more angry as the other refused to accept them. The lady stood by in
 haughty silence. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line
 of fine shops and stately business premises that they really
 abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square
 which we had just quitted. We found a short valley between rugged tors
 which led to an open, grassy space flecked over with the white cotton
 grass. "
 
 "We have still the cabman who drove the spy. "I wish to have a quiet word with 
you, Bradstreet. If you come pestering me any more
 with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. I could stand
 that, Mr. He tapped at the winder,--about three it would be. "I have done the 
lawn and the bicycle shed," said he. "
 
 We all followed him into the housekeeper's room, which stood upon the
 left-hand side of the passage. "No, for it was followed by a protestation of 
innocence. "
 
 "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at
 least a most suspicious remark. My mind is like a racing engine, tearing 
itself to
 pieces because it is not connected up with the work for which it was
 built. It is the first quality of a criminal investigator that
 he should see through a disguise. Barclay to hatred of her husband. I took the 
obvious course, therefore,
 of calling upon Miss M. It pleased and flattered
 that complex mind to think that London had died with his name and his
 words still present in their thoughts. I noticed a tall,
 thin, angular man seated in an arm-chair by the fire. A small taper on the 
edge of the table shed a feeble light which
 sufficed to show me that he was fully dressed. Behold it!"
 
 It was certainly a brilliant idea. Was last seen by his
 fiancee, Miss Violet Westbury, whom he left abruptly in the fog about
 7:30 that evening. The reapers were slowly
 trooping back to their work. "Get it printed as soon as possible," he said; "I 
think your idea is an
 excellent one. "There
 are forces here which may be more dangerous than those he has escaped. "
 
 It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had
 no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a
 confectioner's man with a very large flat box. The setting sun cast a ruddy 
glare upon his burnished
 arms, and sent his long black shadow streaming behind him up the level
 clearing. Holmes walked in, and I followed him with that subdued feeling
 at my heart which the presence of death inspires. "And Mademoiselle's 
address?" he asked. "BALLARAT. "
 
 "Quite so. "I fancy that I see your Grace's check-book upon the table," said 
he. "
 
 "That is Merripit House and the end of our journey. Her face, too, was 
streaked with
 grime, and at the best she could never have been handsome, for she had
 the exact physical characteristics which Holmes had divined, with, in
 addition, a long and obstinate chin. So, between the old
 sinner and the young one the girl has had a pretty bad time. Yet of the 
moderns there are many who scoff at all omens. Three hazel switches
 a day have I broke across his shoulders, and he takes no more notice
 than you have seen him to-day. Then came the Germans, and they also fought very
 bravely, so that one or two broke through the archers and came as far
 as the feather-bed, but all to no purpose. Her young womanhood had, I knew, 
been spent in
 rough scenes and under strange conditions. They were grouped round the bier in 
the early hours of
 the morning, when, to their inexpressible fear and astonishment,
 the door was flung open, and a savage-looking, weather-beaten man in
 tattered garments strode into the room. Then, with a sudden impulse, they all 
rushed in a howling crowd to the
 trees for shelter, leaving the ground behind them spotted with their
 stricken comrades. You then--"
 
 Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my
 companion's knees. I beg you, sir, to say nothing to the police. In my
 position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place
 one's self under obligations. They advanced rapidly and
 noiselessly, with the confidence and dexterity of practised scouts. "
 
 "Were these men Americans--Californians?"
 
 "Well, I don't know about Californians. But, touching
 what you say of the river, we can take heed that we shall not have it
 at the back of us, for the prince hath now advanced to Salvatierra, and
 thence to Vittoria, so that if we come upon their camp from the further
 side we can make good our retreat. Holmes opened it and turned
 the contents out. A
 constable was standing at the kitchen door. "
 
 "Wonderful!" I ejaculated. "A more perfect compound of the bully, coward, and 
sneak than Master
 Silas Brown I have seldom met with," remarked Holmes as we trudged along
 together. "
 
 I stooped in some confusion and began to pick up the fruit,
 understanding for some reason my companion desired me to take the blame
 upon myself. For all
 that I knew the worst might have happened in my absence. Then
 it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark
 again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between
 the stones. I whipped up the mare and we were there
 under the ten minutes. Then I called
 at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything
 about it. Surely, I
 thought, there are limits to mental detachment. There are but two boughs left 
upon this old, old Saxon trunk. Then you passed out and closed
 the window, standing on the lawn outside smoking a cigar and watching
 what occurred. Word had spread of what was going forward, and the rivals
 were already surrounded, not only by the English archers of the Company,
 but by hundreds of arbalestiers and men-at-arms from the bands of
 Ortingo and La Nuit, to the latter of which the Brabanter belonged. "There is 
a mark yonder on the hill," said he; "mayhap you can discern
 it. I think that you will agree with me that an interview with
 Mr. --"by re-reading your masterly address at Vienna. That lucid and
 admirable statement seems to be the last word in the matter. They may be 
darned sharp, but they're not quite sharp
 enough to catch a Washoe hunter. Creatures which were supposed to be Jurassic,
 monsters who would hunt down and devour our largest and fiercest
 mammals, still exist. " (Cries of "Bosh!" "Prove it!" "How do YOU know?"
 "Question!") "How do I know, you ask me? I know because I have visited
 their secret haunts. "
 
 "One more direction! I wish you to drive to Merripit House. I could not see her
 face in the darkness, but her arms were thrown out in an attitude of
 entreaty. "
 
 Aylward at this order came shuffling forward amid the trees, and in an
 instant the two men were clinging in each other's arms, laughing and
 shouting and patting each other in their delight; while old Sir Nigel
 came running with his sword, under the impression that some small
 bickering had broken out, only to embrace and be embraced himself,
 until all three were hoarse with their questions and outcries and
 congratulations. He looked her over in his searching
 fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and
 his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. Ready now to take letter, 
bring rope,--anything. "
 
 To take a letter!  Why not?  Perhaps he might bring help; but in any
 case he would ensure that our lives were not spent for nothing, and
 that news of all that we had won for Science should reach our friends
 at home. "
 
 "And ready to start with an exploring ship?"
 
 "Yes, sir. "You have given me fresh life and hope. You said that you wished to
 see me here to avoid scandal. "
 
 And so it happened that an hour or so later I found myself in the
 corner of a first-class carriage flying along en route for Exeter, while
 Sherlock Holmes, with his sharp, eager face framed in his ear-flapped
 travelling-cap, dipped rapidly into the bundle of fresh papers which he
 had procured at Paddington. My life depends upon it. We are willing to give 30 
pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a
 year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which
 our fads may cause you. He was a tall man,
 full-bearded, with spectacles, one glass of which had been knocked out. "We 
are hunting together, Mr. Being the seventh of
 January, we have very properly laid in the new almanac. It was clear, from
 the moment of his rising, that he had a number of friends and
 sympathizers in the hall, though they formed a minority in the
 audience. But here are
 our comrades, Sir Nigel, and here is our camp. It is painful to have to say
 these things, but you leave me no choice. When we parted she was a free
 woman, but I could never again be a free man. I have told you now the whole 
truth, and if
 I withheld it from the police it is because I did not realize then the
 danger in which my dear friend stood. But how can one serve people who are so 
foolish and so
 ungrateful?"
 
 Whilst the Seneschal of Villefranche had been detailing the evil doings
 of his tenants, Alleyne had been unable to take his eyes from the face
 of Lady Tiphaine. "
 
 "Was there anything in your letter which might have unbalanced him or
 induced him to take such a step?"
 
 "No, sir, certainly not. In spite of his capacity for concealing his emotions, 
I could easily see
 that Holmes was in a state of suppressed excitement, while I was myself
 tingling with that half-sporting, half-intellectual pleasure which
 I invariably experienced when I associated myself with him in his
 investigations. These are only a
 few indications, but they may assist you. It was the body of a tall, well-made 
man, about forty years of age. That night, wearied as I was after the wonderful 
happenings of the day,
 I sat late with McArdle, the news editor, explaining to him the whole
 situation, which he thought important enough to bring next morning
 before the notice of Sir George Beaumont, the chief. "
 
 "Mrs. Give up the letter. "
 
 With doffed caps and eager hands, the comrades took their new and
 precious possessions, and pressed onwards upon their journey, leaving
 the aged palmer still seated under the cherry-tree. Never was our expedition 
in more imminent danger of complete
 annihilation. His face was
 ashy pale, beads of perspiration shone upon his brow, and his hands
 shook until the hunting-crop wagged like a branch in the wind. "It has been 
touch and go with him," said I, "but he'll live now. "Read it aloud. "
 
 The note was undated, and without either signature or address. "She was at 
much pains at my
 upbringing, and, by my soul! I will uphold the curve of her eyelashes,
 for it tickleth my very heart-root to think of her. It is kindly and homely
 to me to hear her voice and to feel that she is behind me. I
 have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all
 laid before you. I wonder I
 didn't drop. "
 
 "How on earth did you do that?"
 
 "Look it up in the books, sir. "
 
 "And then you were together five years in California, so that this
 business dates back not less than eleven years at the least?"
 
 "That is so. The climb was a more simple
 thing now that the rope dangled down the face of the worst part of the
 ascent. The 500 pounds. The Boots pointed out the door to me, and was about to
 go downstairs again when I saw something that made me feel sickish, in
 spite of my twenty years' experience. Godfrey Staunton had crammed
 the note into his pocket. He would
 not go if he could help it. Whimsical and bizarre conceits of this kind are 
common enough in the
 annals of crime, and usually afford valuable indications as to the
 criminal. Do you follow all this?"
 
 "Very clearly. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong
 piece of evidence to corroborate your view. "
 
 "I am afraid that you will find it difficult. "
 
 "Yes, at the mines. "
 
 "If I come down to you, Silas, I may lay my belt across your shoulders,"
 Aylward answered, amid a general shout of laughter. "You're the man we want to 
see. I acknowledged that I was. '
 
 "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but,
 calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000
 pound notes. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and,
 at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the
 whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the
 ground. I crept round there
 last night and scratched at the window. He is small
 for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. Yet there 
was much around to interest us, for we
 were passing through as singular a countryside as any in England, where
 a few scattered cottages represented the population of to-day, while on
 every hand enormous square-towered churches bristled up from the flat
 green landscape and told of the glory and prosperity of old East Anglia. "
 
 "You arouse my curiosity," said I. "I thought I had squeezed all the juice out 
of it, but I see there was
 a little over," he said. I have need of it this day, but it shall
 be duly returned to you. E. D. Malone,
 was observed to rise and to make his way to the back of the platform. "  (All 
right, Mac, wait till I get you alone!)
 
 "When quiet had been restored and the audience resumed their seats
 after the ovation which they had given to the travelers, the chairman,
 the Duke of Durham, addressed the meeting. By the three kings! I would even go 
further, and say that I
 have done things with my arbalest which no Englishman could do with his
 long-bow. He then had
 it returned and obtained another--a most instructive incident, since it
 proved conclusively to my mind that we were dealing with a real hound,
 as no other supposition could explain this anxiety to obtain an old
 boot and this indifference to a new one. He is said to have about seven 
lawsuits upon his
 hands at present, which will probably swallow up the remainder of his
 fortune and so draw his sting and leave him harmless for the future. "These 
shoes," it ran, "were dug up in the moat of Holdernesse Hall. "
 
 "By St. There was no light save in the dining-room, but Holmes caught
 up the lamp and left no corner of the house unexplored. And from what? A 
sheep-dog of the moor? Or a spectral hound,
 black, silent, and monstrous? Was there a human agency in the matter?
 Did the pale, watchful Barrymore know more than he cared to say? It was
 all dim and vague, but always there is the dark shadow of crime behind
 it. He sends me a thousand at a time, and I grieve to say that I
 have to arrange for a fresh supply every fortnight. But he's a good-hearted 
old chap. "
 
 Again there was the struggle upon McMurdo's face, and again it set like
 granite. "
 
 "And then you were together five years in California, so that this
 business dates back not less than eleven years at the least?"
 
 "That is so. "I could never learn, for he was carried within the barrier, and 
as I
 had chanced to break the bone of my leg it was a great unease for me
 to ride or even to stand. Scanlan groaned sympathetically. The horrible
 screams of the dead manager's wife pursued them as they hurried to the
 town. When this was drawn it disclosed a large, brass-bound
 safe. Could you give me the date when Beppo was arrested?"
 
 "I could tell you roughly by the pay-list," the manager answered. "No, here," 
he said. "
 
 "You have not been here before last night?"
 
 "No. " That was
 always the way. "
 
 "It is quite certain that when Mrs. "
 
 "Did you take any messages to Mr. "There, I didn't mean that," she said; "of 
course, you are a friend now. I'm a Freeman myself. "
 
 "I confess that I do not see what we can hope for here," said Professor
 Summerlee. "Is he safe?" she asked. But within a year at the furthest we
 will leave the valley behind us. It was not easy to pick one's steps, but, on 
the
 whole, I was inclined to dismiss the idea that there had been anything
 between the Colonel and Miss Morrison, but more than ever convinced that
 the young lady held the clue as to what it was which had turned Mrs. He had 
turned his back so that none could see him
 but I. He was clad in a professional but rather slovenly
 fashion, for his frock-coat was dingy and his trousers frayed. I stood dumb 
with astonishment, watching him from the darkness. I know it, and I want you to 
start upon your work knowing it,
 too. I thought that I would
 just ask you whether you had heard it. "
 
 "In this case, however--"
 
 "I never make exceptions. "Is that the treasure, then?" she asked,
 coolly enough. "No, it certainly is not. "
 
 "Well, young fellah, when you do you'll learn that once fairly out on a
 round, it would take the crack of doom to stop a true golfer. "Well, well," 
said he
 presently with an exclamation of satisfaction, "things are turning a
 little in our direction at last. I'd put him at forty years of age, and he was
 of a middle height, two or three inches shorter than you, sir. "
 
 "No, it's not him yet. "
 
 "I should like to have a glance round. But don't trouble to trace the 
mysterious
 gentleman upon the bicycle. "  He
 slapped the German upon the shoulder with a rough familiarity from
 which the other winced. I tried
 it when I came to Croydon, and we kept on until about two months ago,
 when we had to part. I'd have waited
 a little longer if it hadn't come to my knowledge that my secret was
 coming out. "
 
 "No, it's not him yet. "
 
 "If the treaty had reached, let us say, the French or Russian Foreign
 Office, you would expect to hear of it?"
 
 "I should," said Lord Holdhurst, with a wry face. You have known
 my father and my kin: is not my family one of good standing and repute?"
 
 "Beyond all question. I have even heard that you go
 the length of boxing with the young officers. He was to bring his boat round 
on a certain night to an
 old wharf which was never guarded, and there he was to pick me up. His 
conversation, I remember, was about the
 Bertillon system of measurements, and he expressed his enthusiastic
 admiration of the French savant. So startling would his results appear
 to the uninitiated that until they learned the processes by which he had
 arrived at them they might well consider him as a necromancer. And, certes, 
had the two visages alone been seen, and the stranger been
 asked which were the more likely to belong to the bold warrior whose
 name was loved by the roughest soldiery of Europe, he had assuredly
 selected the lady's. Quick, Watson--quick, or we are done!"
 
 He sprang through a gate into a field, dragging the reluctant Pompey
 after him. There was the huge famished brute, its
 black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and
 screamed upon the ground. Andrew, where he
 hath kept his court these years back. With
 wonder and admiration, Alleyne, leaning over the bulwarks, gazed at the
 forest of masts, the swarm of boats darting hither and thither on the
 bosom of the broad curving stream, and the gray crescent-shaped city
 which stretched with many a tower and minaret along the western shore. 
Lestrade. He got himself into a fog recently over a
 forgery case, and that was what brought him here. The screams were repeated 
for the
 amusement of the lodge. As the mist parted, and
 the sun broke through, it gleamed and shimmered with dazzling brightness
 upon the armor and headpieces of a vast body of horsemen who stretched
 across the barranca from one cliff to the other, and extended backwards
 until their rear guard were far out upon the plain beyond. "Someone is moving 
in that room," said Holmes in a whisper, his gaunt
 and eager face thrust forward to the window-pane. "Yes, I can see his
 shadow. Half of it is yours and half is
 Thaddeus Sholto's. That's all right!  Don't wait to talk or
 think. It all comes down to this: That there are some men that have good cause
 to hate me and would give their last dollar to know that they had got
 me. I have no idea what backward sweep of memory had brought the matter
 fresh to his mind, or what freak had caused him to desire that I should
 recount it; but I hasten, before another cancelling telegram may
 arrive, to hunt out the notes which give me the exact details of the
 case and to lay the narrative before my readers. If you are
 forewarned you will be the more ready to make allowances. Chapter III
 
 In Quest of a Solution
 
 It was half-past five before Holmes returned. "Toby has lost his character for 
infallibility. "
 
 "He acted according to his lights," said Holmes, lifting him down from
 the barrel and walking him out of the timber-yard. "
 
 "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in
 the palm of my hand. Holmes tore it open and burst out
 laughing. I was convinced, from his intent face and his
 purposeful manner, that at last he was upon a clue. "
 
 "Alack and alas for the fairest and sweetest!" she cried. "The road to 
Montaubon is over the
 river, and so through Quercy and the Agenois. The only effect was that
 the larger ones became detached and threatened to roll down the
 gradient and crush us. "
 
 "Which surely he restored to their owner?"
 
 "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. "
 
 "He said too much. "
 
 "And from what?"
 
 "From your slippers. His boots, too, might be told from their traces. This 
symptom was
 prevalent among all who had died from the poison. Mrs. Marker is prepared to 
swear
 that the professor was still in his night-clothes, and indeed it was
 impossible for him to dress without the help of Mortimer, whose orders
 were to come at twelve o'clock. "Did you dust this bureau yesterday morning?"
 
 "Yes, sir. Mrs. Allen, the
 housekeeper, had taken her upstairs and stayed with her in the bedroom. The 
housekeeper's room was
 rather nearer to the front of the house than the pantry in which Ames
 had been working. "Professor
 Challenger--personal--views--later," were the solid peaks above his
 clouds of inaudible mutter. The interrupter bowed, smiled, stroked his
 beard, and relapsed into his chair. With a
 scream of terror I turned and rushed wildly down the path. The Elder to whose 
care the two waifs
 had been committed, led them to his waggon, where a meal was already
 awaiting them. Through the window we could dimly discern that a young man
 was seated inside. He managed to find employment with Morse
 Hudson, and in that way tracked down three of them. "'Would you murder me?' he 
stammered. "'There is no murder,' I answered. There cannot be any missing,' 
said he. He had always laughed at what
 he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked
 very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon
 himself. And yet that Indian was a sly fellow also. What can it mean? Surely 
my whole chain of reasoning cannot
 have been false. "Interview with Mr. Soley Wilson. " "Famous Specialist says
 'Never despair!'" "Our Special Correspondent found the eminent scientist
 seated upon the roof, whither he had retreated to avoid the crowd of
 terrified patients who had stormed his dwelling. It is, as you are probably 
aware, only a fuller and
 more detailed version of the account which appeared in the Monday edition
 of the Daily Gazette--an account which has been universally admitted to
 be the greatest journalistic scoop of all time, which sold no fewer than
 three-and-a-half million copies of the paper. "There must be no mistake," said 
Holmes, looking round at him. "You can put that consideration out of the 
question. Holmes, but perhaps your friend here has not heard of it. I was some 
little way off, so that
 I could not make out the features, but there was something unnatural and
 inhuman about the face. Meanwhile I will simply show you how capable my
 apparatus is of supporting the weight of each of us. "A lady yesterday entered 
your study. "Why should he take the horse out of the stable? If he wished
 to injure it why could he not do it there? Has a duplicate key been
 found in his possession? What chemist sold him the powdered opium? Above
 all, where could he, a stranger to the district, hide a horse, and such
 a horse as this? What is his own explanation as to the paper which he
 wished the maid to give to the stable-boy?"
 
 "He says that it was a ten-pound note. " Then a sudden suspicion seized
 her. They left on Tuesday. Nothing more is known of them until Mr. But I take 
it that it is more
 likely to be some crony of the landlady's. Instead we were faced by an object 
so strange
 and so unexpected that we stood for a moment staring at it in amazement. In 
self-defence I stabbed him to the heart. Outside the street
 was absolutely deserted. Its reflection was shot back in ruddy patches by the 
distant
 pools which lay amid the great Grimpen Mire. Its owner grabbed at its legs, 
but too late to hold
 it. Its owner grabbed at its legs, but too late to hold
 it. There were the two towers
 of Baskerville Hall, and there a distant blur of smoke which marked the
 village of Grimpen. "What's the meaning of this?" I heard him say at last in a 
dry, rasping
 tone. "
 
 We heard the roar of it, and presently it came flying into sight, going
 at what seemed to me to be a prodigious speed. "No doubt you think that you are
 complimenting me in comparing me to Dupin," he observed. "
 
 "You can take him to the mortuary now," he said. At Holmes' request I
 walked down the bank to the right, and he to the left, but I had not
 taken fifty paces before I heard him give a shout, and saw him waving
 his hand to me. "I heard a cab drive up," she said. "
 
 "But what does it all mean?" I asked. It was evident that to his intensely
 aristocratic nature this discussion of his intimate family affairs
 with a stranger was most abhorrent, and that he feared lest every
 fresh question would throw a fiercer light into the discreetly shadowed
 corners of his ducal history. "Meanwhile," said he, "I have hardly
 had time to think over all that you have told me. It's a big thing for a
 man to have to understand and to decide at one sitting. Your name is made, but 
I have still to make mine. I married, and so left the hospital, and with it all 
hopes of
 a consulting practice. If Sarah had been
 there, by the Lord, she should have joined them. I lit a cigar, and puffed at 
it to steady my
 nerves, but my hands were trembling, and my temples throbbing with
 excitement. "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking
 business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative
 investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection
 and the number of our depositors. "This night hath over wrought
 you, and your senses play you false. "Ha! you find it so?"
 
 "Extremely so. "I know you, you scoundrel!
 I have heard of you before. Mac," said he, kneeling down beside the body. "I 
wish you luck with your
 worm. "
 
 "Eh? What was that?"
 
 "I say that I have solved it. Otherwise they could not have imagined that I 
had returned
 to my rooms. Now, in this case there was not the slightest doubt
 in my mind from the first that the key of the whole matter must be
 looked for in the scrap of paper in the dead man's hand. "
 
 Our visitor had gulped off the brandy and the colour had returned to
 his face. I feel that there is reason lurking
 in you somewhere, so we will patiently grope round for it. So it ended by my 
accepting, and I went down
 to Chiltern Grange, about six miles from Farnham. For Sir Alleyne Edricson and 
for his beautiful bride the future had also
 naught but what was good. This and a certain tinge of superstition were the 
only unusual traits
 in his character which his brother officers had observed. The Manor House, 
with its many gables and its small diamond-paned
 windows, was still much as the builder had left it in the early
 seventeenth century. "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in 
the
 gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you
 to-night. "
 
 "And Joseph! Joseph a villain and a thief!"
 
 "Hum! I am afraid Joseph's character is a rather deeper and more
 dangerous one than one might judge from his appearance. Holmes then threw the 
handkerchief to a distance, fastened a
 stout cord to the mongrel's collar, and led him to the foot of the
 water-barrel. "
 
 "It amounted, if I am correctly informed, to five thousand pounds to
 anyone who will tell you where your son is?"
 
 "Exactly. If this valley is closed to me and
 I can never come back, how can I leave you behind, and me perhaps in
 hiding from the police with never a chance of a message? It's with me
 you must come. And yet all that gentle loveliness of
 nature made this terrific and wholesale destruction the more pitiable and
 awful. Sherlock Holmes were
 beaten by a woman's wit. The look of anger passed in an instant from his face. 
But the glories of the landscape were
 all wasted upon my companion, who was sunk in the deepest thought. "We were 
shut up in Bhurtee, the regiment of us with half a battery of
 artillery, a company of Sikhs, and a lot of civilians and women-folk. "
 
 A minute later we were all seated in a comfortable landau, and were
 rattling through the quaint old Devonshire city. James of
 Compostella, who hath already befriended us this day, and on whose feast
 I hereby vow that I shall eat a second carp, if he will but interpose a
 second time. See to the broadcloth and velvet that the rogues bear upon
 their backs! By my troth! if they were my subjects they would be glad
 enough to wear falding and leather ere I had done with them. But mayhap
 it is best to let the wool grow long ere you clip it. All this may in time be 
forgotten. "
 
 "Alas! that I should say it, but I also am now the only Edricson. I am going 
through the City
 first, and we can have some lunch on the way. If the good will lock themselves 
up, and if the wicked
 will still wander free, then alas for the world!"
 
 Alleyne looked at her in astonishment, for her cheek was flushed, her
 eyes gleaming, and her whole pose full of eloquence and conviction. But if you 
have
 why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to
 accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me,
 madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year. "
 
 "It is our pride," the prince answered coldly, "that we rule over
 freemen and not slaves. From the northern gate the
 prince and his companions looked down at a dark sea of heads, brightened
 here and there by the colored hoods of the women, or by the sparkling
 head-pieces of archers and men-at-arms. To
 right and left of the turrets were more modern wings of black granite. My 
first impulse was to tell Sir Henry all my plans. She followed me, however, 
before I could close the
 door. Now, when young ladies wander
 about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock
 sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is
 something very pressing which they have to communicate. Smith, when
 they got the boat. His
 health--well, I don't know that it's better nor worse for the smoking. It was 
I who lit the lamp some minutes
 afterward. The man who held out
 against the Church vanished away, and none knew whither he had gone or
 what had befallen him. There were some papers of importance in the cupboard,
 but there were no signs that this had been tampered with, and the
 professor assures me that nothing was missing. "
 
 "But James knew nothing of that. "You brought it upon yourself, John Tranter," 
said the tall squire,
 who had been addressed as Roger Harcomb. "You will
 convey the very impression which is in your own mind--a dying man--a
 dying and delirious man. "
 
 "You will excuse my anxiety, Miss Morstan," he remarked, airily. "If your 
Grace wishes----"
 
 "Yes, yes, you had better go. "
 
 I relapsed into my chair. "
 
 "You have been blind to much that is goodly and fair," quoth Sir Nigel,
 "but you have also been spared much that is sorry and foul. "
 
 "Challenger's sketch-book. "
 
 "He hailed me at half-past nine in Trafalgar Square. "By the way, what do you 
give him?"
 
 "Five hundred pounds for this particular job. Paul!" said the knight, "our 
good merchant of Southampton hath
 not played us false, for methinks I can see our ship down yonder. Did you not 
spy a crooked man upon the beach?"
 
 "Nay, I spied nothing," grumbled Sir Oliver, "for I was hurried down
 with a clam stuck in my gizzard and an untasted goblet of Cyprus on the
 board behind me. Lead on, Godfrey! A new
 golden pyx will shine in the minster of Dinan if we come safely through
 with it. "
 
 The attention of the insurgents had been drawn away from murder to
 plunder, and all over the castle might be heard their cries and whoops
 of delight as they dragged forth the rich tapestries, the silver
 flagons, and the carved furniture. "You work your own
 method, and I shall work mine. "
 
 We both put our eyes to the grating. "
 
 "But not more so than I to find you. You're all bees without stings, so far as 
lookin'
 after the hive goes. You ought to know
 where she is. You aided her to escape. That is your record in this
 business, Mr. Great sorrow or great joy should bring intense hunger--not 
abstinence
 from food, as our novelists will have it. "
 
 "That's why the country folk have great feasts at funerals," I hazarded. It's 
an ugly business, Watson, an ugly dangerous
 business, and the more I see of it the less I like it. Warren's lodger. It 
sounds plausible, does
 it not?  The mysterious one could understand English, even if he could
 not print it. I pray you then my fair dove, that you
 will vouchsafe to me one of those doeskin gloves, that I may wear it as
 the badge of her whose servant I shall ever be. I sprang up and rang for the
 servant. To hear his quick step moving here and moving
 there from early morning to late at night, and yet never to catch so
 much as a glimpse of him--it's more than I can stand. At last he started in 
his chair, and his eyes
 brightened. "The cunning dog has covered his tracks," said he. "
 
 "What the plague did you ask me for then?" said Simon. You do not imagine that 
if I were the pursuer I should allow
 myself to be baffled by so slight an obstacle. Let us see, now. Yours 
faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE. W. WINDLE D. M. ," I read. Another heading was
 "Argentine," another "Costa Rica," and another "San Paulo," each with
 pages of signs and figures after it. So! It is ready for them. "
 
 They were not long in coming. That is actually sketched
 from the life. You may have
 heard me upon the telephone. "  He struck his stick sharply upon the ground, 
on which
 a cabman, his whip in his hand, sauntered over from a four-wheeler
 which stood on the far side of the street. I rushed forward, fell down, 
clapped my hand
 to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. This was the power which now 
carried me onwards. But we shall have horrors enough
 before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet
 pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more
 cheerful. "Look here, Lestrade," said he, "has that constable in the passage 
been
 in charge of the place all the time?"
 
 "Yes, he has. "You see that plant behind the
 animal; I suppose you thought it was a dandelion or a Brussels
 sprout--what?  Well, it is a vegetable ivory palm, and they run to
 about fifty or sixty feet. Douglas in a boarding house in London, did you not, 
and became engaged
 to him there? Was there any romance, anything secret or mysterious,
 about the wedding?"
 
 "There was romance. It was at
 Tunbridge Wells then that he had become conscious of some danger. On the other 
hand, he had never seen
 this brother since childhood, and the reports which had come to his ears
 concerning him were seldom to his advantage. Suddenly as we looked at her we 
saw a dense black
 cloud of smoke shoot up from her, which hung like a monstrous tree upon
 the sky line. "It is a Spanish call, my fair lord," said Black Simon. " He 
curled
 himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his
 hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his
 black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. "Then that 
explains what the
 girl said. The sooner we start the
 better, as the fellow may put out his light and be off. They stood with their 
heads close together,
 talking in low, confidential tones. They were big fellows, as big as a man and 
a deal stronger. Sir Nigel was a slight man of poor stature, with soft lisping 
voice and
 gentle ways. We tore away his collar,
 and Holmes breathed a prayer of gratitude when we saw that there was
 no sign of a wound and that the rescue had been in time. Lestrade, of
 Scotland Yard, very solemn and impressive, was ushered into our modest
 sitting-room. One morning a young girl called,
 fashionably dressed, and stayed for half an hour or more. He and I seemed to be
 the only living things between the huge arch of the sky and the desert
 beneath it. "Now, Watson," said he. "Mr. Josiah Brown, I suppose?" said 
Holmes. Sandeford, of Lower Grove
 Road, Reading. "Yes, sir, I fear that I am a little late, but the trains were 
awkward. Old Acton, who is one of
 our county magnates, had his house broken into last Monday. But the
 maiden herself was most instructive. They might possibly float up against a 
ship, or a sleeping whale,
 or become entangled in seaweed. Have you the tools?"
 
 "They are here, in my overcoat. Roundhay?"
 
 "No, Mr. Holmes. With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. In a few 
seconds she
 moaned, stirred, and sat up. "
 
 "What you say certainly sounds plausible. But his eyes, like my own, are the 
worse for wars. Let
 us for a moment consider the difficulties which stand in the way. The
 sky may darken, and the clouds may gather, and again the day may come
 when Britain may have sore need of her children, on whatever shore of
 the sea they be found. The third fellow paced
 up and down. It would not be very loud, and yet in the silence of the night
 it should have easily penetrated to Mrs. "I nearly fell into the error of 
supposing that you were
 typewriting. Suddenly it ceased, and I heard voices, and a
 scuffle, with the sound of blows. A few seconds later a roar like thunder 
burst upon our
 ears, and as the smoke thinned away there was no sign left of the
 _Gloria Scott_. Thus at the very moment
 that we thought that all was safe we were all four seized and brought
 to trial on a charge of murder,--three of us because we had held the
 gate that night, and the fourth because he was known to have been in
 the company of the murdered man. Had I the literary touch, they might have 
been worthy of the
 occasion. "
 
 "Ha! The attack may not have been entirely unexpected. Holmes, do you mean to 
tell me that, all the time I
 was talking to Bannister in this room, we had the man prisoner if we had
 only known it?"
 
 "So I read it. "
 
 The various bedrooms and sitting-rooms had yielded nothing to a careful
 search. This brutal
 preliminary seemed to shadow forth some strange and inexplicable horror
 in the background. When our friends left I at once followed them in the
 hopes of marking down their invisible attendant. What was his horror one 
evening to meet in the streets the
 very man who had initiated him in Naples, the giant Gorgiano, a man who
 had earned the name of 'Death' in the south of Italy, for he was red to
 the elbow in murder!  He had come to New York to avoid the Italian
 police, and he had already planted a branch of this dreadful society in
 his new home. "
 
 "You are of such value to me," he cried, in a whirl of hot, passionate
 words, "that all else has become nought. "What then, Sir John?" asked the 
prince. Yes, sir, it was I who sold Dr. There he
 is!"
 
 There was a violent peal at the bell, and in a few seconds the
 fair-haired detective came up the stairs, three steps at a time, and
 burst into our sitting-room. "
 
 "I confess," said I, "that I do not quite follow you. Now, Mr. Far down the 
road a long-legged
 figure was running, with a bundle under one arm and the other hand to
 his side, like a man who laughs until he is sore. How long they seemed, those 
quarters! Twelve struck, and
 one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for
 whatever might befall. How there was Stir at the Abbey of St. How the 
Brushwood Men came to the Chateau of Villefranche
 XXXI. "Stand forth, and let me clip thee. "A nice trap!" cried the high, 
snarling voice. There
 was dense fog, however, and nothing could be seen. It
 has all been done before. "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner 
and glancing
 along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the
 houses here. I take it, in the first place, that
 neither of us is prepared to admit diabolical intrusions into the
 affairs of men. "'"Ah, my boy," said he, "it is all very well to talk, but you 
don't
 know how I am placed. But you shall know, Victor. I can't understand a spry man
 of the union finding no work to do in Chicago. Then the
 charge against him will break down. "
 
 "We shall follow the Lot until we come to Cahors, and then cross the
 marches into Villefranche," said Sir Nigel. "I was only testing you, and you 
ring true every time. "There was a day when, from Trent
 to Tweed, there was no better marksman than Robin Heathcot. "The
 maid's words have done me no scath. "
 
 "Quite so. "And
 I can see men-at-arms in yonder boats which ply betwixt the vessel and
 the shore. It is very hot for the time of year; and I have
 had a good deal to worry and try me. "Well, when he saw that they were indeed 
the proofs, it was then that
 he yielded to temptation. 'E's a very clever
 man, the master--so clever that 'e's clean balmy sometimes. I've seen
 'im right off 'is onion, and no error. "
 
 "Signals?"
 
 "Yes, from that window. Holmes stuck his feet up
 on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands
 in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed,
 than to us. "I don't think any one could make much of this," said he. "Better 
close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed
 down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we
 heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a
 horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. It was
 quite necessary for us to find some one to take his place, and we were
 fortunate in hearing of your powers. The world has paid a fearful price for 
its schooling. The key, having
 served its purpose, would be hurled away. Captain Morstan showed me his name 
among a
 list of passengers in one of the mail-boats very shortly afterwards. The only 
person in London whom he could have visited is
 Major Sholto. The sandal-wearing
 Mohammedan has the great toe well separated from the others, because
 the thong is commonly passed between. It is melancholy outside and in. They 
talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's
 instinct which gave me that feeling. But what is the truth? The night I joined
 you beat up old man Stanger. There's the devilish
 cunning of it! If he were acting through a human agent we could get some
 evidence, but if we were to drag this great dog to the light of day it
 would not help us in putting a rope round the neck of its master. And now
 for lunch, and then for Norman Neruda. The house was forbidden him; but
 when he tapped at the window Ettie came out to him. He has broken
 the rules in some fashion. Tell me what is your purpose, and see if he may
 not aid it. "
 
 "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since
 the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has
 completed the cure. Far away between the black
 lines of trunks the quick glitter of steel marked where the Company
 pursued its way. "
 
 "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. Takes you as cramp, I fancy. "
 
 "Yes, yes; it is cramp. It was a magnificent specimen of the
 jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I
 have ever seen. Sherlock Holmes. It was addressed to him, and ran
 thus:
 
 
 Please await me. She would not herself stay in the house another day and was 
starting
 that very afternoon to rejoin her family at St. "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is 
an impertinent fellow upon the
 road there who stares up at Miss Hunter. '
 
 "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. Apply them!"
 
 "I can only think of the obvious conclusion that the man has practised
 in town before going to the country. "
 
 "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice
 read over the extraordinary announcement. "
 
 "Why not?"
 
 "He was murdered in his house last night. "
 
 "Yes. "Pray be precise as to details," said he. And you, sir?
 I can recommend them, for I have them especially prepared by Ionides, of
 Alexandria. Gregson," said the American, looking across at the official,
 "I don't know what your British point of view may be, but I guess that
 in New York this lady's husband will receive a pretty general vote of
 thanks. "
 
 "She will have to come with me and see the chief," Gregson answered. "
 
 "It is such men as he," retorted Micheldene, "who are like rats in
 a wheat-rick or moths in a woolfels, a harm and a hindrance to all
 peaceful and honest men. "
 
 "My dear fellow, you shall keep watch in the street. There is one other small 
point upon which I desire
 some light. I could see nothing recorded in
 the shape of crime which was not commonplace and futile. It was as
 ear-splitting as any whistle of a railway-engine; but whereas the
 whistle is a clear, mechanical, sharp-edged sound, this was far deeper
 in volume and vibrant with the uttermost strain of agony and horror. I have 
heard that at Twynham Castle there is a
 buffet which groans beneath the weight of his prizes. Once--well, I can hardly 
tell about the once to an official detective. It was on the last occasion that 
I took the liberty of running over his
 papers--with the most unexpected results. It was a stone-flagged room
 upon the second floor, with a bed in a recess for him, and two smaller
 pallets on the other side, on which Aylward and Hordle John were already
 snoring. "At first the maid thought that young Smith was already dead, but on
 pouring some water from the carafe over his forehead he opened his eyes
 for an instant. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King
 of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the
 problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the
 incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are
 outside the pale of the law. "I came down, sir," said he, "because our people 
in America would very
 much like to hear more about this danger which is, in your opinion,
 pressing upon the world. "We may thank
 our stars that it is not raining. "
 
 "Excellent," said Sherlock Holmes. If this valley is closed to me and
 I can never come back, how can I leave you behind, and me perhaps in
 hiding from the police with never a chance of a message? It's with me
 you must come. "
 
 A sudden idea occurred to me, and I took the candle from the trembling
 hand of the butler. The waves have driven in the sail wherewith we
 strove to stop the hole. "
 
 "That is most important," said Holmes. Melas. "We may need an
 interpreter. I think we might employ it in getting some
 dinner and then, Lestrade, we will take the London fog out of your
 throat by giving you a breath of the pure night air of Dartmoor. Having taken 
the printed
 description. Do
 you understand?"
 
 "Entirely. "
 
 "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an
 instant. "There was the taking of the sea-rovers, and the holding of the keep
 against the Jacks. When I looked in at the window, I found Drebber
 all huddled together in a drunken sleep. "That was how Enoch Drebber came to 
his end. In this way we may have sight of their army, and perchance even
 find occasion for some small deed against them. "Whatever have you been doing 
with yourself, Watson?" he asked in
 undisguised wonder, as we rattled through the crowded London streets. "
 
 "Look here!" said McMurdo sternly. You have only to lay it
 before the proper authorities. You'll be more likely
 to get a confession out of him alone. But I'm sure I am exceedingly obliged
 to you, Mr. It was now broad daylight. More than one person fainted at the 
mere sight
 of him, so terrible was the effect. But you can take it from me, gentlemen, if 
it was my last
 word, that no man ever had a more loving, faithful wife--and I can say
 also no friend could be more loyal than I!"
 
 It was spoken with fervour and feeling, and yet Inspector MacDonald
 could not dismiss the subject. With your permission I will read it to you. 
Often it was only the smallest
 trace, Watson, the faintest indication, and yet it was enough to tell me
 that the great malignant brain was there, as the gentlest tremors of
 the edges of the web remind one of the foul spider which lurks in the
 centre. Petty thefts, wanton assaults, purposeless outrage--to the man
 who held the clue all could be worked into one connected whole. To the
 scientific student of the higher criminal world, no capital in Europe
 offered the advantages which London then possessed. It was then with a lighter 
heart and
 a stouter courage that the young man turned from the Abbot's room, while
 the latter, following him to the stair-head, finally commended him to
 the protection of the holy Julian, patron of travellers. Its general shape was 
that of a shallow funnel, all the sides
 sloping down to a considerable lake in the center. It had sprung from the 
perch and was circling slowly round the
 Queen's Hall with a dry, leathery flapping of its ten-foot wings, while
 a putrid and insidious odor pervaded the room. What passion of hatred can it 
be which
 leads a man to lurk in such a place at such a time! And what deep and
 earnest purpose can he have which calls for such a trial! There, in that
 hut upon the moor, seems to lie the very centre of that problem which
 has vexed me so sorely. And yet he would not so much as let me touch the
 tips of her fingers. "
 
 "And the churches!" cried Alleyne. "
 
 "Well, I am an honest man, though not a very rich one. "How many have you in 
your train?" asked the prince, assuming a graver
 mien. "And how with the good Queen Philippa?"
 
 "And how with Dame Alice Perrers?" cried a third. "
 
 But she had not recovered from that sudden glimpse of guilty fear which
 she had read in the man's face. "
 
 "I wish to heavens that you would, Mr. "
 
 "None of those which come to me are. "I think, my friends, that a further 
delay in this
 insufferable atmosphere is hardly advisable. "
 
 "Words, words!" shouted the other furiously. "
 
 "Exactly. The narrow passage led us
 into a quadrangle paved with flags and lined by sordid dwellings. Gregson
 flung it open and held his light full blaze in front of him, while we
 all peered eagerly over his shoulders. There's three folk come out since he 
went in, but I'll
 swear he wasn't one of them. Get your things on, and I'll be
 ready at the door by ten o'clock. "
 
 "Is this your land, then?" gasped Alleyne. I then inquired as to the vessels 
which lay at present
 in the port of London. I sat up with Sir Henry
 in his rooms until nearly three o'clock in the morning, but no sound of
 any sort did we hear except the chiming clock upon the stairs. In
 he walked, a middle-sized, dark-haired, dark-eyed, black-bearded man,
 with a touch of the Sheeny about his nose. There's coffee on the
 table, Watson, and I have a cab at the door. "
 
 "Surely we have a case. How about this mysterious ally?  How came he
 into the room?"
 
 "Yes, the ally!" repeated Holmes, pensively. Suddenly there was the momentary 
gleam of a light up in the
 direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was
 succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. I was not 
absolutely alone in the world. I begged a fortnight's
 grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers,
 and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. I did not even 
knock when I
 reached it, but turned the handle and rushed into the passage. He is not an 
Englishman. He had prospered well, and Barker had first met him in California, 
where
 they had become partners in a successful mining claim at a place called
 Benito Canyon. He spoke perfect English, was pleasing in his manners,
 and as good-looking a man as ever I saw in my life. Now the great
 salt plain stretched before his eyes, and the distant belt of savage
 mountains, without a sign anywhere of plant or tree, which might
 indicate the presence of moisture. ' He drew up his chair very close to mine 
and began to
 stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. As we
 went I glanced back, and there was that yellow livid face watching us
 out of the upper window. On the cliffs on either side might also
 be seen the flash of arms and the waving of pennons where the force of
 Navarre looked down upon the army of strangers who passed through their
 territories. SEA UNICORN, Dundee. ' This seemed to
 establish that the crime had been done in a moment of fury, and that
 the murderer had seized the first weapon which came in his way. 'That is the 
way to
 prosper! You won't mind my testing you, will you? Let me see. How are
 Ayrshires?'
 
 "'A hundred and six and a quarter to a hundred and five and
 seven-eighths. How the White Company set forth to the Wars
 XIV. How Hordle John Found a Man whom he Might Follow
 XI. How Roger Club-foot was Passed into Paradise
 XXVIII. "He either
 avoids the place for weeks, or else he works there from morning to
 night. "
 
 "And has your business been attended to in your absence?"
 
 "Nothing to complain of, sir. You know what woman's
 instincts are. You aided her to escape. "Oh, you can leave me to deal with him 
then. "The door of death is indeed, as you said, hung with
 beautiful, shimmering curtains; for, once the choking feeling had passed,
 it was all unspeakably soothing and beautiful. "Now,
 by the keys of Peter! I had rather that hand withered and tongue was
 palsied ere I had struck or miscalled you. "Have you any change in your 
pocket?"
 
 "Yes. "And good?"
 
 "As an angel. The hand of God is leading us under the person of our
 Prophet. So they lived, these men, in their own lusty, cheery fashion--rude and
 rough, but honest, kindly and true. I
 spent three days in wiring to Dundee, and at the end of that time I had
 ascertained the names of the crew of the SEA UNICORN in 1883. Holmes, you know 
the people who live under my roof, and
 I shall continue with my miserable story. "
 
 My friend shook his head. Holmes, I could not! On the one side seemed certain
 ruin, on the other, terrible as it seemed to take my husband's paper,
 still in a matter of politics I could not understand the consequences,
 while in a matter of love and trust they were only too clear to me. I offered 
the lady marriage, but she
 refused it on the grounds that such a match might mar my career. Now, what did 
you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe
 it. You mentioned your name, as if
 I should recognize it, but I assure you that, beyond the obvious facts
 that you are a bachelor, a solicitor, a Freemason, and an asthmatic, I
 know nothing whatever about you. We can't have this reign of terror, Mr. It 
argues the degree in which I had lost touch with my profession that
 the name of Leslie Armstrong was unknown to me. The charwomen are in the habit 
of taking off their boots at the
 commissionnaire's office, and putting on list slippers. On the eve of the 
contest the peasants flocked
 in from the whole district of the Medoc, and the fields beyond the walls
 were whitened with the tents of those who could find no warmer lodging. Where 
have her
 children not gone? What have they not done? Her banner is planted on
 ice. "
 
 "Have you been in it since your adventure?"
 
 "No, I came straight away for you. "Count the cost!  Your brain may,
 as you say, be roused and excited, but it is a pathological and morbid
 process, which involves increased tissue-change and may at last leave a
 permanent weakness. You know, too, what a black reaction comes upon
 you. Never mind your usual petty puzzles of the
 police-court. It's a vital international problem that you have to
 solve. I mind that
 you said it was a splay-foot, and here's the explanation. We can compare notes 
afterwards, and each
 will supplement the other. "One night, when Gennaro returned from his work, he 
brought a
 fellow-countryman back with him. The other is my wife,
 and I can answer for it that the sound could not have come from her. The key, 
having
 served its purpose, would be hurled away. He was
 free of the community from that time on. You
 will understand now how it was that I strove to keep the peace with him,
 and you will in some measure sympathize with me in the fears which fill
 me, now that he has gone from me to his other victim with threats upon
 his tongue. They spoke of
 those hours of burrowing. They were buzzards, the
 vultures of the west, whose coming is the forerunner of death. He was a man 
about five foot
 nine in height, fifty or so years of age, his hair slightly grizzled, a
 grayish moustache, a curved nose, and a face which all of them described
 as fierce and forbidding. Bernstone,
 were both released yesterday evening. It is quite certain that the
 thief or thieves were well acquainted with the house, for Mr. There are no 
footsteps nor any clue to the criminals. Now it returned. Her eyes shone with 
the joy of living, and her face still quivered
 with amusement at some remark of her companion. We passed round
 the lawn to the outside of the young diplomatist's window. Know you aught of 
Spain, Sir Oliver?"
 
 "Nought, my sire, save that I have heard men say that there is a dish
 named an olla which is prepared there, though I have never been clear in
 my mind as to whether it was but a ragout such as is to be found in the
 south, or whether there is some seasoning such as fennel or garlic which
 is peculiar to Spain. When every man's grip is on his neighbor's throat, and 
every
 five-sous-piece of a baron is marching with tuck of drum to fight whom
 he will, it would be a strange thing if five hundred brave English boys
 could not pick up a living. Could there be a better hiding-place?"
 
 "Ah, a hiding-place--that is better!" cried Stanley Hopkins. But now we come 
to a sinister
 fact. A dark-blue oar crossed with a cherry-pink
 one above his mantel-piece spoke of the old Oxonian and Leander man,
 while the foils and boxing-gloves above and below them were the tools
 of a man who had won supremacy with each. Holmes
 dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached
 her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood
 running freely down his face. "He is his own
 master, and would act as his own judgment directed. "I guess somebody else 
made the country in these
 parts. He is a wondrous
 large and strong man, with no ruth for man, woman, or beast. If
 you could persuade him to come here and give us the benefit of his
 unique experience of this disease, the investigation of which has been
 his dearest hobby, I cannot doubt that he could help me. With indomitable 
patience and perseverance,
 Jefferson Hope possessed also a power of sustained vindictiveness, which
 he may have learned from the Indians amongst whom he had lived. For a moment 
it seemed as though he would have reached it, for he had
 trampled over or dashed aside the archers who threw themselves in his
 way; but Hordle John seized him by the foot in his grasp of iron and
 dragged him from the saddle, while two others caught the frightened
 horse. I was surprised, therefore, when, one morning in
 June, as I sat reading the British Medical Journal after breakfast, I
 heard a ring at the bell, followed by the high, somewhat strident tones
 of my old companion's voice. Sherlock Holmes to undertake the conduct of this 
case. "I am Mr. I pray you, friend, to give us 'The Bells
 of Milton,' or, if you will, 'The Franklin's Maid. The writing is
 undoubtedly my uncle's. "
 
 "Absolutely," said Holmes. "
 
 "Would he not have hidden a couple, had he desired to give the idea that
 they had gone off upon them?"
 
 "I suppose he would. It was a most petrifying experience. "What can it mean?" 
I gasped. "They will say that you
 are an infernal liar and a scientific charlatan, exactly as you and
 others said of me. I brought them because I had
 heard that you can read great things out of small ones. "I will now cut one of 
these pills in two," said Holmes, and drawing his
 penknife he suited the action to the word. "
 
 "The key!" ejaculated Phelps. Simon shook his head. We got into a cab 
together, and
 away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and
 that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. "Make them wait 
till to-morrow, Zambo," I shouted; "then I can send
 letter back by them. "
 
 "Very good, sarr! I promise they wait till to-morrow," said the negro. But it 
is bad enough
 that one should misuse you. Holmes?"
 
 "Well, you put the case strongly," my friend replied thoughtfully. "
 
 "But we have no warrant for his arrest. "These strange men are our friends. "I 
marvel that ye should have come upon none of them before, for
 across the water they are as common as gallybaggers. I seem to
 remember flopping over by the step. He sets his kingdom up to the best bidder, 
like some
 scullion farrier selling a glandered horse. Suddenly, however,
 he broke out into a sharp, querulous cry. He was again
 in the grip of his mysterious malady. "He is coming," he said. This
 would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years
 in England. The real reason lay in the reluctance which Mr. It is probable 
that he
 imagined his crime to be a bloodless one, and hoped that if the
 body were consumed it would hide all traces of the method of his
 death--traces which, for some reason, must have pointed to him. I don't know 
that your assistant is
 not as remarkable as your advertisement. The Inspector and I
 must have a word with the prisoners, but you will certainly see me back
 at luncheon time. Alleyne, weary with the unwonted excitements of the day, was 
soon
 in a deep slumber broken only by fleeting visions of twittering legs,
 cursing beggars, black robbers, and the many strange folk whom he had
 met at the "Pied Merlin. To the right Sir Oliver, Aylward,
 Hordle John, and the bowmen of the Company fought furiously against the
 monkish Knights of Santiago, who were led up the hill by their prior--a
 great, deep-chested man, who wore a brown monastic habit over his suit
 of mail. "You're surprised to see me, sir," said he, in a strange, croaking
 voice. "But
 look here, mister, I don't care for folk poking about my place without
 my leave, so the sooner you pay your score and get out of this the
 better I shall be pleased. What would it profit a
 woman, for example, to get him a few months' imprisonment if her own
 ruin must immediately follow? His victims dare not hit back. It
 is probable that there existed an anthropoid ape in South America, who
 in past ages found his way to this place, and that he developed into
 the creatures we have seen, some of which"--here he looked hard at
 me--"were of an appearance and shape which, if it had been accompanied
 by corresponding intelligence, would, I do not hesitate to say, have
 reflected credit upon any living race. It may be that he needs space to breed 
some fresh bacillus less
 noxious than the last. "Here is Herr Heidegger, sure enough!" cried Holmes, 
exultantly. "
 
 She was confused, but not unduly so. I can well remember that two leagues
 from the town of Rheims I met a very valiant and courteous cavalier of
 France, with whom I had gentle and most honorable contention for upwards
 of an hour. "It struck me that
 the man was small," said I. It is now close on eight o'clock. Here it is. "
 
 

*           *           *
 
 It was nearly six o'clock before we found ourselves in the pretty
 Surrey village of Esher, with Inspector Baynes as our companion. Indeed, he 
smoked very little, and yet
 he might have kept some tobacco for his friends. "
 
 "What, then, do you propose to do?" asked Summerlee, who had for once
 nodded his assent to the reasoning of his brother scientist. "  He drew out a 
copy from his
 inside pocket. "
 
 "Had Sir Charles received any other letters in the same writing?"
 
 "Well, sir, I took no particular notice of his letters. "
 
 "Did he give you no address?"
 
 "He said that letters to the Hotel du Louvre, Paris, would eventually
 reach him. Nay, but you must not fail me,
 or it will go ill with me. See
 how his chest heaves, and his dear feathers all awry--the little knight
 who would not have his lady mishandled. There is
 goose-grease in a box, if the old scars ache at the turn of the weather. At 
least that
 was my first impression. Elsie had sunk down upon the floor, and we were
 face to face. I was heeled also, and I held up my gun to scare him off
 and let me get away. "He was stanch and true, was little Tonga. He possesses 
two out of the three
 qualities necessary for the ideal detective. 10. "
 
 "That would give me time. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note,
 leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. He had ridden over to Poole, 
one November day, with his fellow-squire,
 Peter Terlake, in quest of certain yew-staves from Wat Swathling, the
 Dorsetshire armorer. Through the plank partition he could hear the
 murmur of many voices from the assembly within. Once or twice he caught
 the sound of his own name, and he knew that they were discussing his
 candidacy. It was not the first
 time that they had handled an unwilling witness. He remarked that we must not 
disturb the housekeeper. I remained in my hiding-place, and it was well that I 
did so, for
 presently the man reappeared, cycling slowly back. "
 
 We were in time to overtake the major before he reached the corner. Not here!"
 
 "What is it here?"
 
 "It's a murder society, that's vat it is. All right; come if you want to. With 
tingling nerves
 but a fixed purpose, I sat in the dark recess of the hut and waited with
 sombre patience for the coming of its tenant. "For the sake of God, sirs," he 
whispered as he passed,
 "speak him fair and do not rouse him! For the love of the Virgin, be
 mild with him!"
 
 "Who is this, then?" asked Sir Nigel. "
 
 "Nay, Bertrand, I fear it as little as you," said she. "Was it your custom 
always to lock
 yourselves in at night?"
 
 "Always. The thieves ransacked the library and got very little for
 their pains. It was a bewildering route for anyone who was not accustomed to 
face
 Nature in her wildest moods. By means of
 this I had access to at least one spot in this great city where I could
 rely upon being free from interruption. But the word reminds me of a small 
accomplishment, trivial but amusing,
 which I used to possess. "
 
 "Now that Gorgiano is dead we fear nothing," said the lady. I cannot explain 
the
 practical things of life. There was no one in the corridors, Mr. That's why I 
made a little war
 on my own. It
 would fit into any box. There was Challenger, with his smile of condescension, 
his
 drooping eyelids, his intolerant eyes, his aggressive beard, his huge
 chest, swelling and puffing as he laid down the law to Summerlee. "
 
 "Can I be of assistance?"
 
 "Your presence might be invaluable. "
 
 "Had Sir Charles received any other letters in the same writing?"
 
 "Well, sir, I took no particular notice of his letters. "By Saint James! it
 is now my turn to show you where my weapon has the better of you. Christopher! 
it
 is indeed a fair and goodly life which you have chosen, for you gather
 up the spoil as a Warsash man gathers lobsters, without grace or favor
 from any man. "
 
 "You are right, master-shipman," said another of the older archers. Passing 
down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the
 river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the
 right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Trusses of straw had been thrown down 
along the walls, and reclining on
 them were some twenty or thirty archers, all of the Company, their
 steel caps and jacks thrown off, their tunics open and their great limbs
 sprawling upon the clay floor. At every man's elbow stood his leathern
 blackjack of beer, while at the further end a hogshead with its end
 knocked in promised an abundant supply for the future. "Have the brethren 
come?" he asked, in the Anglo-French dialect used in
 religious houses. The aortic I may
 rely upon, but I should value your opinion upon the mitral. Him we enlisted at 
Para, on the
 recommendation of the steamship company, on whose vessels he had
 learned to speak a halting English. It was at Para also that we engaged Gomez 
and Manuel, two half-breeds
 from up the river, just come down with a cargo of redwood. The voice, too, 
when he spoke, was as deep and as
 fierce as the growl of a beast of prey. "
 
 The smoking house beyond the trees had burst into flames. "I submit to any 
conditions. "I
 believe it is meant for a sign-post. Hall Pycroft, to tell my friend your very 
interesting
 experience exactly as you have told it to me, or with more detail if
 possible. Allow me to
 introduce you to him. Whip your horse up, cabby, for we have only just
 time to catch our train. "
 
 The man whom I found myself facing was a well built, fresh-complexioned
 young fellow, with a frank, honest face and a slight, crisp, yellow
 mustache. "
 
 "You speak of danger. Holmes--absolutely fatal. Still, there are other gangs
 of three besides the Randalls, or it may be some new gang of which the
 police have never heard. It is all fair and above-board. I have said
 that the one person from whom we had had some sign of sympathy in our
 attempts to get away was the young chief whom we had rescued. I have some few
 references to make. As I did so I struck against an elderly, deformed man,
 who had been behind me, and I knocked down several books which he was
 carrying. Rucastle
 came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. It is, as he
 said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself,
 for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all
 stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. "There is nothing in which 
deduction is so necessary as in religion,"
 said he, leaning with his back against the shutters. "It is
 said that Mr. Sergeant Tuson, of the City Police, was somewhat surprised,
 therefore to see a gentleman with a carpet bag come down the steps at
 twenty minutes past one. I checked them and considered them and maybe added a 
few of my
 own. But he will never trouble anyone in this country again. "
 
 "Kindly let me have the facts, Mr. "Our minds
 will play us strange pranks, and bethink you that these words of the
 Lady Tiphaine Du Guesclin have wrought upon us and shaken us. "The case 
certainly presents
 more features of interest and more possibility of development than I had
 originally thought. "Precisely. John Horner,
 a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's
 jewel-case. "
 
 "We have been following you about all the morning. "I quite recognize that I 
am under
 obligations to you, Mr. "I shall
 probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. " Again I had an 
opportunity of asking him a point blank
 question, and again my delicacy prevented me from forcing another man to
 confide in me. Hardly had we reached the
 dark shadows before the step of the policeman was heard in the fog
 above. When the account
 of the railway and shipping accidents has been completed, it will furnish
 grim reading, although there is evidence to show that in the vast
 majority of cases the drivers of trains and engineers of steamers
 succeeded in shutting off their motive power before succumbing to the
 poison. Petersburg they had departed for Paris;
 and when he followed them there he learned that they had just set off
 for Copenhagen. At the Danish capital he was again a few days late, for
 they had journeyed on to London, where he at last succeeded in running
 them to earth. Three servants of the castle lay
 dead beside them, all torn and draggled, as though a pack of wolves had
 been upon them. At last, after a weary week, the day had come and the hour. 
You will see how impossible it is for me to go to Dartmoor. As I have already 
said, there is no man living who can fear
 death less than I do. They both disappeared utterly and
 completely. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. I braved him to do
 his worst. But you can imagine how surprised I was, Mr. Yet,
 by St. Ma foi! there were those who wished that he would have
 less care for their souls and a little more for their bodies!"
 
 "It is well to have a learned clerk in every troop," said Sir Nigel. Shoot, 
mes garcons, or you will be too
 late. "
 
 The throng of pirates had cleared away from the great wooden catapult,
 leaving two of their number to discharge it. We saw the cold winter sun rise 
over the
 dreary marshes of the Thames and the long, sullen reaches of the river,
 which I shall ever associate with our pursuit of the Andaman Islander
 in the earlier days of our career. What did we see first?  A very placid and
 respectable lady, who seemed quite innocent of any secret, and a
 portrait which showed me that she had two younger sisters. As it fell out, 
however, he had that very
 evening, ere the sun had set, a chance of seeing how stern was the grip
 of the English law when it did happen to seize the offender. Without a
 word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door
 of which was standing open. He
 shrugged his shoulders in ungracious acquiescence, while our visitor
 in hurried words and with much excitable gesticulation poured forth his
 story. The man who had addressed us mounted
 to the box, while we took our places inside. The big blank spaces in
 the map are all being filled in, and there's no room for romance
 anywhere. From ten o'clock onward
 Mr. Such are the
 views which, with much passionate distortion of his thin features and
 wagging of his thin, goat-like beard, he poured into our ears all the
 way from Southampton to Manaos. Good,
 quiet, uncomplaining mother Nature, long slighted and miscalled, still
 bides her time and draws to her bosom the most errant of her children. The two 
walked swiftly across the meadow to the narrow bridge, he in
 front and she a pace or two behind. Right glad was the
 traveller to see the high tower of Christchurch Priory gleaming in the
 mellow evening light, and gladder still when, on rounding a corner, he
 came upon his comrades of the morning seated astraddle upon a fallen
 tree. One young knight on a gray jennet leaped over his fallen
 comrades and galloped swiftly up the hill, shrieking loudly upon Saint
 James, ere he fell within a spear-length of the English line, with the
 feathers of arrows thrusting out from every crevice and joint of his
 armor. Foully murdered, with a score of wounds upon
 him and a rope round his neck, his poor friend had been cast from
 the upper window and swung slowly in the night wind, his body rasping
 against the wall and his disfigured face upon a level with the casement. "My 
God!" cried Alleyne, shaking in every limb. He was in a pitiable state of
 reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. He carried his head very jauntily in 
the air, had a swaggering style
 of walking, and was, above all else, remarkable for his extraordinary
 height. With white armor, blazoned shield, and plume of
 ostrich-feathers from his helmet, he carried himself in so jaunty and
 joyous a fashion, with tossing pennon and curveting charger, that a
 shout of applause ran the full circle of the arena. On they rode, and on, 
until, at last, topping a
 ridge, they looked down upon the fateful valley. "Faith, John," said the 
prince, "it sounds as though you were right. Ha! my grace D'Armagnac, it seems 
that our friends on this side will not
 grieve if our English champions lose the day. When my eye is true, I am better 
at rovers than at
 long-butts or hoyles. James's Hall I
 felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set
 himself to hunt down. "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as 
we
 emerged. "But my fair lady," she stammered, "what have I
 done? I have said no more than I heard. Wouldn't we have found the place
 disarranged, and missed the things which he had taken?"
 
 "It depends on what the things were," said Holmes. "You must remember
 that we are dealing with a burglar who is a very peculiar fellow, and
 who appears to work on lines of his own. Cerebral
 paresis!  Mental inertia!  Wonderful!"
 
 He was too absurd to make me angry. Indeed, it was a waste of energy,
 for if you were going to be angry with this man you would be angry all
 the time. Here and
 there amid the brushwood the travellers saw the rude bundle of
 sticks which served them as a home--more like a fowl's nest than the
 dwelling-place of man. Holmes, for over nine weeks, unconscious, and raving 
with
 brain-fever. I have been followed from London Bridge
 Station, and I am sure that they are only waiting for the warrant to
 arrest me. I followed the footsteps down the yew alley, I saw the
 spot at the moor-gate where he seemed to have waited, I remarked the
 change in the shape of the prints after that point, I noted that there
 were no other footsteps save those of Barrymore on the soft gravel, and
 finally I carefully examined the body, which had not been touched until
 my arrival. A
 lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in
 the window, rose as we entered. M. ," I read. "Hum! He's about due. However, 
let us see what Jim Browner has to say for
 himself. "
 
 
 Such were the singular circumstances in connection with the Resident
 Patient and the Brook Street Doctor. Following the path
 backwards, we picked out another spot, where a spring trickled across
 it. Beyond was an open glade, and
 in this were five of the most extraordinary creatures that I have ever
 seen. I think
 myself that it is a page from some private diary. Between ourselves, Watson, 
it's a sporting duel between
 this fellow Milverton and me. Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the 
steps, worn hollow in
 the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the
 light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch
 and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the
 brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the
 forecastle of an emigrant ship. Through the gloom one could dimly catch a 
glimpse of bodies lying
 in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads
 thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a
 dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. There were also two 
dress-circle tickets for the Woolwich
 Theatre, dated for that very evening. What did the police think of the
 noise which awoke you from your sleep?"
 
 "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his
 bedroom door. "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened
 here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure
 your co-operation. I deserve
 to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. It may have been a little over an 
hour before I reached Meiringen. "This way! This way! They are in the 
bowling-alley," cried the
 stranger, darting through the bushes. Never
 look rearwards, but always to our glorious goal. But you have sent
 for me, Sir Nigel?"
 
 "I would fain have your rede, Sir Oliver, for Master Hawtayne hath fears
 that when we veer there may come danger from the hole in our side. "
 
 The brave little creature hurried away, and presently we heard the
 sizzling of a kettle. "Can you tell me his exact height?" he asked. "
 
 "But I can. Well, when once his case has been
 settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you
 saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it. Gilchrist's tan gloves 
a-lying in that chair. I knew those gloves
 well, and I understood their message. We must be wary for a while, if we
 are to get the information which we want. "
 
 "Good Lord! Good Lord! What shall I do?" cried the stranger, in an
 ecstasy of despair. "Funny, she didn't say good-bye; she
 'most always did if she was just goin' over to Auntie's for tea, and now
 she's been away three days. Say, it's awful dry, ain't it? Ain't there
 no water, nor nothing to eat?"
 
 "No, there ain't nothing, dearie. How can such as
 you speak of violence and of vengeance. I think it is safe to say that things 
can never be
 quite the same again. A cup of
 coffee would clear my brain. Who were these German people, and what were
 they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And
 where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was
 all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no
 idea. "
 
 "Lord Holdhurst!"
 
 "Well, it is just conceivable that a statesman might find himself in
 a position where he was not sorry to have such a document accidentally
 destroyed. "There is a delightful freshness
 about you, Watson, which makes it a pleasure to exercise any small
 powers which I possess at your expense. "There are limits, you see, to our 
friend's
 intelligence. There is scope," said he. "
 
 "A large foot or a small?"
 
 "You could not distinguish. "Then I trust that you at least will honour me 
with your
 company," said Sherlock Holmes. I did so; and became at once conscious of an 
extraordinary throbbing and
 commotion which was going on inside. I called at Allan
 Brothers', the chief land agents in the village, and found that it was
 from this firm that the villa had been rented. "
 
 "You may safely trust us. The sun was beginning to sink behind the stables of
 Mapleton, and the long, sloping plain in front of us was tinged with
 gold, deepening into rich, ruddy browns where the faded ferns and
 brambles caught the evening light. It was mere chance that
 he was within earshot. "
 
 I have jotted down the very words of their argument, but now it
 degenerates into a mere noisy wrangle with much polysyllabic scientific
 jargon upon each side. At last
 she spoke in a hard and measured voice, as one who dare not trust
 herself to speak too freely. He took my refusal very seriously, but also very 
gently. "Now, Watson, confess yourself utterly taken aback," said he. 
Cunningham stood and saw the two men struggling
 just where we are. Alec Cunningham saw him from the back passage. Beyond the 
fact that he was a middle-sized man and
 dressed in some dark stuff, we have no personal clue; but we are making
 energetic inquiries, and if he is a stranger we shall soon find him
 out. Holmes himself if you wanted
 fuller information. "See," said he. "No one could find his way into the 
Grimpen Mire
 tonight. Let us hide him away, and who is the wiser?" "I did
 not kill him," said I. I suppose that you will admit that the action
 is morally justifiable, though technically criminal. The situation seemed 
beyond all words or
 comments. Gone was the
 coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had
 seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the
 repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled
 red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale,
 sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned,
 rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. Then suddenly 
realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and
 threw himself down with his face to the pillow. Next morning, after the office 
opened, they came
 to inquire. The transport ship Gloria Scott was set down by the Admiralty
 as being lost at sea, and no word has ever leaked out as to her true
 fate. She advanced along this corridor,
 leaving no traces upon the cocoanut matting. And yet
 even here we may discriminate. What is the scientific mind to think of their
 presence?  I can only account for it by an invasion from outside. I swear that 
another day shall not have passed
 before I have done all that man can do to reach the heart of the
 mystery. I can't
 say for certain, because it all depends--well, it all depends upon
 a factor which is completely outside our control. '
 
 "I was, as you may think, Watson, horrified at this unexpected news. 
ILLINGWORTH:  'Undoubtedly. I move, then, that, while Professor Summerlee be 
thanked for
 his interesting address, the whole matter shall be regarded as
 'non-proven,' and shall be referred back to a larger, and possibly more
 reliable Committee of Investigation. Sherlock Holmes to undertake the conduct 
of this case. "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "I 
found traces of the
 fellow's camp. This other comrade of mine is a right learned
 clerk, for all that he is so young, hight Alleyne, the son of Edric,
 brother to the Socman of Minstead. The choicest tapestries which the
 looms of Arras could furnish draped the walls, whereon the battles of
 Judas Maccabaeus were set forth, with the Jewish warriors in plate of
 proof, with crest and lance and banderole, as the naive artists of the
 day were wont to depict them. There is no vehicle save a
 dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you
 sit on the left-hand side of the driver. Simple as it was, there
 were several most instructive points about it. "
 
 "Simple!" I ejaculated. :. --"and occasionally like this"--. :. :. :. --"and 
occasionally like this"--. :. "Can you remember that?"
 
 "No, I cannot. "
 
 "What reparation can I make?"
 
 "Where is Oberstein with the papers?"
 
 "I do not know. )
 
 "Having conducted his audience in fancy to the summit, and marooned
 them there by reason of the fall of their bridge, the Professor
 proceeded to describe both the horrors and the attractions of that
 remarkable land. I have safely conducted these three gentlemen to the spot
 mentioned, and I have, as you have heard, convinced them of the
 accuracy of my previous account. But
 you saw me go, and that was the beginning of my troubles. Will you fix it, 
Brother Baldwin?"
 
 "Sure!" said the young man eagerly. "How many will you take?"
 
 "Half a dozen, and two to guard the door. "Five years altogether. "
 
 "He was a bachelor, you say?"
 
 "A widower. At last
 she spoke in a hard and measured voice, as one who dare not trust
 herself to speak too freely. Three servants of the castle lay
 dead beside them, all torn and draggled, as though a pack of wolves had
 been upon them. With a kick and a blow he freed himself from two others
 who clung to him, and in a moment he was within the portal with his
 comrades. Both the
 guards who held Summerlee were down, and he was staggering about like a
 drunken man in his amazement, unable to realize that he was a free man. They 
had at once sent for the
 doctor and for the constable. Nothing more is known of them until Mr. This is 
no time for
 despair. "
 
 "And why, sir?"
 
 "Because the document in question is of such immense importance that
 its publication might very easily--I might almost say probably--lead to
 European complications of the utmost moment. "I have two Englishmen of this 
class in
 my train, who are at this instant, I make little doubt, as full of your
 wine as any cask in your cellar. But it is, as you may think, sir, a very 
pleasant thing for me to
 hear that you are grieved at what you have done, and I can but rede
 that we should go back together, and you should make your peace with the
 Socman by handing back your prisoner. I thought it might suit me--and now I
 know it will. Well, I didn't ask you in here just to talk sport. He could hide
 his hound, but he could not hush its voice, and hence came those cries
 which even in daylight were not pleasant to hear. He computes the value of the 
jewels at not
 less than half a million sterling. Professor Challenger answered that they 
had. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that
 there should be a marriage between us. She heard Mr. "If I take it up I must 
understand every detail," said he. "
 
 "And so say I," cried Felton, heartily. "
 
 "Now, tell me, Dr. "
 
 "I understand you to say that your room is on the second floor, that
 there is no entrance from without, and that from within no one could go
 up unobserved. "How can you prove that?" he asked. "That's the
 worst blow yet. Where's
 mother?"
 
 "Mother's gone. I guess you'll see her before long. It was, as I have said, a 
pit, with sharply-sloping walls and a level
 bottom about twenty feet across. Here is the
 print of a foot in mould upon the sill. Back among the groves he could see the 
high gable ends and
 thatched roofs of the franklins' houses, on whose fields these men found
 employment, or more often a thick dark column of smoke marked their
 position and hinted at the coarse plenty within. Yet it would be well to shoot 
the bolt
 in yonder door when one is in strange quarters. It is for the convenience of 
these that the Diogenes Club
 was started, and it now contains the most unsociable and unclubable men
 in town. I left
 him seated amid his pink radiance, oiling the lock of his favorite
 rifle, while he still chuckled to himself at the thought of the
 adventures which awaited us. But I see that the enemy's preparations have
 gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. "It was torn out of 
the dead man's hand. Sergeant Tuson, of the City Police, was somewhat surprised,
 therefore to see a gentleman with a carpet bag come down the steps at
 twenty minutes past one. I checked them and considered them and maybe added a 
few of my
 own. From the top of
 this bowlder the gleam of something bright caught my eye, and, raising
 my hand, I found that it came from the silver cigarette-case which he
 used to carry. If this man were inside it I should find out from his own lips, 
at
 the point of my revolver if necessary, who he was and why he had dogged
 us so long. You did not
 know, Dr. These," he pointed around, "are my other guns. The parallel
 is exact. They had scarce reached
 it, however, ere they found that the wooden joists and planks of the
 flooring were already on fire. They have been identified as her clothes, and 
it seemed to me
 that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off. They call them 
many
 names, and they rule them this way or that but they are all English,
 for I can hear the voices of the people. So far as I know, he and his wife are
 as respectable a couple as any in the county. Let me advise you to gain at 
least the small
 credit for repentance and confession, since there are still some
 details which we can only learn from your lips. "
 
 "By the three kings! there is sooth in what you say," remarked the
 archer. "You
 have had no great truck with the world," she said, "or you would have
 learned that it is the small men and not the great who hold their noses
 in the air. You have no warrant for my arrest. He will show
 them when to act and where. "From the Plymouth hotel, Watson," he said. 
Barclay, denied having any knowledge of what it
 was which had caused the ill-humor in which her companion had returned. You 
then, as I understand, followed her home and saw
 through the window an altercation between her husband and her, in which
 she doubtless cast his conduct to you in his teeth. "  He handed it to me and 
closed the
 door of his oak cabinet. At the same
 time, Stanley Hopkins's methods do not commend themselves to me. At first he 
was very eager to come, but on second
 thoughts it seemed to both of us that if I went alone the results might
 be better. On the very day,
 however, before I left, an incident occurred which proved in the sequel
 to be of importance. "We were sitting out upon the lawn on garden chairs, the 
three of us,
 basking in the sun and admiring the view across the Broads, when a maid
 came out to say that there was a man at the door who wanted to see Mr. But I 
deem it best that ye should leave your squires and come with
 me, for, howsoe'er pressed the prince may be, I am very sure that he
 would be loth to keep two old comrades-in-arms upon the further side of
 the door. Please burn the cipher message, which can now be of no use to you. 
Bring with you a jemmy, a dark
 lantern, a chisel, and a revolver. "
 
 As he spoke, the knight-errant, who had remounted his warhorse, galloped
 forward to the royal stand, with a silken kerchief bound round his
 wounded arm. We have a
 saying here, Sir Nigel, that if you pummel Jacques Bonhomme he will pat
 you, but if you pat him he will pummel you. Their method was to fall forward 
with their full weight upon each in
 turn, leaving him crushed and mangled, to bound on after the others. "Higher, 
Wat, higher!" "Put thy body into it,
 Will!" "Forget not the wind, Hal!" So ran the muttered chorus, while
 high above it rose the sharp twanging of the strings, the hiss of the
 shafts, and the short "Draw your arrow! Nick your arrow! Shoot wholly
 together!" from the master-bowman. And now both mangonels were at work from 
the galleys, but so covered
 and protected that, save at the moment of discharge, no glimpse could
 be caught of them. He gathered her into his arms
 and kissed away her fears and doubts. He called on John Ferrier that night, 
and many times again, until
 his face was a familiar one at the farm-house. McMurdo had obtained a 
temporary job as bookkeeper for he was a
 well-educated man. "Why did you shoot him?"
 
 "I was helping Uncle Sam to make dollars. "You have everything a man could 
have,--youth, health, strength,
 education, energy. "Do you think you
 could walk round the house with me?"
 
 "Oh, yes, I should like a little sunshine. My results are always very much at 
your service if you
 care to apply to me for them. The lamp was
 on the table; so I lit it. He looked round him in surprise
 as he emerged into the clear, starlit night. I can see
 him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point
 pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble
 man. When I got to the
 door----"
 
 "You stopped, and then walked back to the garden gate," my companion
 interrupted. "
 
 Holmes chuckled and rubbed his hands. I have known such things to happen. But 
there is a ring at the bell,
 Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I
 have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. When I got back 
after my visit to you, the very first thing I saw next
 morning was a fresh crop of dancing men. Their height,
 as we approached them, seemed to me in some places to be greater than
 he had stated--running up in parts to at least a thousand feet--and
 they were curiously striated, in a manner which is, I believe,
 characteristic of basaltic upheavals. "
 
 "The Worthingdon bank gang," cried the inspector. "I next called upon Madame 
Charpentier," continued the detective. When I said that you stimulated me I 
meant, to be frank, that
 in noting your fallacies I was occasionally guided towards the truth. 
Summerlee was a bit hysterical, and he laughed till he cried. At last we 
exposed that
 monstrous torso (fifty-four inches, by the tailor's tape). Hewers of wood and
 drawers of water, such were they from now onwards. We had returned across the 
plateau with our allies two days after the
 battle, and made our camp at the foot of their cliffs. "
 
 "A singular case," remarked Holmes. Reuben Hayes's manner was far from 
gracious, but Holmes took it with
 admirable good-humour. "Look here, my man," said he. "By George, this must be 
the trail of the
 father of all birds!"
 
 An enormous three-toed track was imprinted in the soft mud before us. McGinty, 
you may have to answer for your own
 conduct some of these days," the captain answered. "This man McMurdo
 was a crook before ever he came here, and he's a crook still. Holmes, and on 
Saturday the
 manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my
 week's work. If it had not been for Miss Harrison here and for the
 doctor's care I should not be speaking to you now. You'll get a great welcome 
when you return. "
 
 "I thank you," said McMurdo, and shaking hands with his new acquaintance
 he plodded, gripsack in hand, up the path which led to the dwelling
 house, at the door of which he gave a resounding knock. Why did he not break it
 there, since it is evident that every yard that he carried it increased
 the risk of someone meeting him?"
 
 "I give it up," said Lestrade. "How do I know that they are lying? Because it 
is a clumsy fabrication
 which simply could not be true. "Kiss it and make it well," she said, with 
perfect gravity, shoving
 [19] the injured part up to him. "That's what mother used to do. "I know that 
every word is true, for you
 have hardly said a word which I did not know. "I know not what to say or what 
to
 think. My dear
 Watson, I owe you a thousand apologies. It was the sight of that Alpine-stock 
which turned me cold and sick. It gave the name John Douglas. The one to whom 
Felton found
 himself opposed was a tall stripling with a stag's head upon his shield,
 while Sir Nigel's man was broad and squat with plain steel harness, and
 a pink and white torse bound round his helmet. "
 
 Alleyne lost no time in following the directions of the wild, masterless
 man, whom he left among the trees where he had found him. "Pardieu! yes. Now 
they ride forth from the shadow. The tree was, however, enormous, and, looking 
upwards, I could see
 no thinning of the leaves above my head. The
 broad strips of bracken glowed red and yellow against the black peaty
 soil, and a queenly doe who grazed among them turned her white front
 and her great questioning eyes towards the wayfarers. Two of his constables 
came at
 the call. The king raised his hand as a signal. Milverton dropped his papers 
and sat rigid in his
 chair. The sound was repeated, and then there came a gentle tap at the
 door. I noticed that she had her
 hand to her brow. Had your father, Miss
 Morstan, refrained from throwing a strain upon his heart, he might have
 been alive now. "
 
 I could have struck the man across the face, so hot was I at this
 callous and off-hand reference to so delicate a matter. "I fear that it may be 
the last
 investigation in which I shall have the chance of studying your
 methods. "
 
 "I ought to make you sign a paper to that effect. Well, we can let that be 
bygones; for, between you and
 me--and perhaps I'm going further than my duty in saying it--they could
 get no clear case against you, and Chicago's open to you to-morrow. Even the 
most insignificant problem
 would be welcome in these stagnant days. "
 
 Things had indeed been very slow with us, and I had learned to dread
 such periods of inaction, for I knew by experience that my companion's
 brain was so abnormally active that it was dangerous to leave it without
 material upon which to work. We bobbed and
 grinned in front of each other. Do you feel equal to it?"
 
 "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story. Holmes. The 
letter--for it
 was a letter from a foreign potentate--was received six days ago. There was a 
thrill
 in the doctor's voice which showed that he was himself deeply moved by
 that which he told us. "Eminent Bodymaster," he said, in a solemn voice, "I 
claim urgency!"
 
 "Brother McMurdo claims urgency," said McGinty. "It's a claim that by
 the rules of this lodge takes precedence. Holmes," said he, as he
 sank, like a wearied man, into an armchair. "The Inspector here has done all 
that could possibly be suggested, but I
 wish to leave no stone unturned in trying to avenge poor Straker and in
 recovering my horse. "We are through, boys!  We are
 through!"
 
 It was indeed the full moon which shone straight down the aperture
 which opened upon the cliffs. "It will serve to take him to
 Scotland Yard. "Your telegram was dispatched
 about one. Holmes. "There are certainly grave difficulties
 in the way," said he. In the dim light I could make out that the person who had
 opened the door was a small, mean-looking, middle-aged man with rounded
 shoulders. Summerlee had lain down and slept upon the sand, but we others 
roamed
 round the edge of the water, seeking to learn something more of this
 strange country. Summerlee might be interested to know that with
 the Orinoco, which communicated with it, some fifty thousand miles of
 country were opened up, and that in so vast a space it was not
 impossible for one person to find what another had missed. Lord John lay 
silent, wrapped in the
 South American poncho which he wore, while Challenger snored with a
 roll and rattle which reverberated through the woods. There, prostrate upon 
their faces, lay the little red figures of
 the four surviving Indians, trembling with fear of us and yet imploring
 our protection. A huge sombre cloud, flecked with livid blotches,
 stretched over the whole seaward sky-line, with long ragged streamers
 whirled out in front of it. "
 
 "The Brixton Road does not lie between any circus and Houndsditch," said
 Sherlock Holmes sharply. "
 
 "We are told that three men drank from them. It is quite clear that the 
colonel was a cool and
 desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should
 stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out
 pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. My clothes were all 
sodden with
 dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded
 thumb. This passage is printed on the examination paper, and it would naturally
 be an immense advantage if the candidate could prepare it in advance. Some 
blankets rolled in a waterproof
 lay upon that very stone slab upon which Neolithic man had once
 slumbered. The police are of opinion that this outrage may have been
 perpetrated upon Miss Cushing by these youths, who owed her a grudge
 and who hoped to frighten her by sending her these relics of the
 dissecting-rooms. "
 
 "How, then, did you deduce the telegram?"
 
 "Why, of course I knew that you had not written a letter, since I sat
 opposite to you all morning. The most we can say is that the vitiated
 ether has produced a temporary death. Now, I make a point of never having any 
prejudices,
 and of following docilely wherever fact may lead me, and so, in the
 very first stage of the investigation, I found myself looking a little
 askance at the part which had been played by Mr. Mrs. Challenger held her hand 
stretched out to it in her longing. Her husband turned on more gas. As she swept
 silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of
 grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the
 more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong
 character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. My brother and I 
naturally associated this peculiar
 incident with the fear which haunted my father during his life; but it
 is still a complete mystery to us. To think that I should have
 overlooked you!  I need not introduce you to Mr. That night he sat up with his 
gun and kept watch and
 ward. I hope that I make it all plain?'
 
 "'I quite follow you,' said I. I had as much right to
 it as Peter Carey, anyhow, so I took it with me and left the hut. "
 
 As he spoke he turned the contents of the wine glass into a saucer and
 placed it in front of the terrier, who speedily licked it dry. "
 
 "To a great mind, nothing is little," remarked Holmes, sententiously. I have a 
large correspondence. Turn thy quiver to
 me, Aylward. " He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of
 reference beside the mantelpiece. "The younger brother of the late Sir James 
Walter, the head of the
 Submarine Department. "
 
 "It is very neatly tied. Having, however, at last, satisfied himself as to his 
identity,
 the man's surprise changed to consternation. "You are mad to come here," he 
cried. "And you accept the rule of the Bodymaster for the time being under all
 circumstances?"
 
 "I do. I have no mind as yet to show them how much they have to fear
 from us. "
 
 Under his direction I cut such gashes in the sides of the trees as
 would ensure that it should fall as we desired. Where are we to be free from 
this pestilent race? Can a
 Frenchman upon French land not sit down in a French auberge without
 having his ears pained by the clack of their hideous talk? Send them
 packing, inn-keeper, or it may be the worse for them and for you. Athens. '
 
 "Another five minutes, Mr. ' 'But I
 have something for thee, Gourval,' said Simon. '
 
 "'And how far from the edge of the wood?'
 
 "'About the same. "'The plan is his. The man next to me, upon the aft side, 
was one whom I had particularly
 noticed when we were led down the quay. I sat down
 beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him,
 however long he might be. "
 
 "Well, well, we all get a bit prosy sometimes," said Lord John. )  "Then I put 
you to the test. But had the
 process stopped?  Was this gentleman to be taken as the final type--the
 be-all and end-all of development?  He hoped that he would not hurt the
 feelings of the gentleman in the red tie if he maintained that,
 whatever virtues that gentleman might possess in private life, still
 the vast processes of the universe were not fully justified if they
 were to end entirely in his production. All the stores of food, all the 
vintages of wine, all the
 treasures of art were ours for the taking. "
 
 "Alas! that I should say it, but I also am now the only Edricson. "Most 
certainly a sign-post," said Challenger. "What else?  Finding
 himself upon a dangerous errand, our pioneer has left this sign so that
 any party which follows him may know the way he has taken. We all stood still 
and listened. A great broken bough upon the grass showed whence he had
 gained his leverage to tilt over our bridge. Rachel--who is a very good girl, 
but
 of an excitable Welsh temperament--had a sharp touch of brain-fever,
 and goes about the house now--or did until yesterday--like a black-eyed
 shadow of her former self. That was our first drama at Hurlstone; but a
 second one came to drive it from our minds, and it was prefaced by the
 disgrace and dismissal of butler Brunton. "
 
 "Could it not have been dropped from a bridge?"
 
 "I should say it was impossible. You have no explanation yourself of the 
tragedy?"
 
 "Possibly an accident, possibly--I only breathe it among ourselves--a
 suicide. This
 has always been held so. A patient, evidently, and possibly an
 all-night sitting. So defiling was their presence that a true Cistercian might
 not raise his eyes to their face or touch their finger-tips under ban of
 church and fear of deadly sin. "
 
 "None in the world," said he. "Oh, spare me, Mr. How cruelly I have misjudged 
him!"
 
 "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went
 very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in
 the snow which might help me. How a Strange Company Gathered at the "Pied 
Merlin"
 VI. "The maid is like the young filly, which kicks heels
 and plunges for very lust of life. My glass allowed me to observe that the 
plaster was slightly
 scratched in doing it, which would not have been the case if the man's
 nail had been trimmed. These little
 problems help me to do so. Night after night the soldiers got up poorer men, 
and the
 poorer they got the more keen they were to play. Mr. Holmes, I am the unhappy 
John Hector McFarlane. "
 
 "Perhaps he is waiting for a better price. There
 was a tap at a door, a bull's bellow from within, and I was face to
 face with the Professor. They sat
 with their profiles towards me on either side of the round table. "
 
 "Is it on this Brixton case that you are employing them?" I asked. "Women are 
never to be
 entirely trusted,--not the best of them. "
 
 I did not pause to argue over this atrocious sentiment. "
 
 "I have no sympathy with these childish games. She was a very beautiful woman. 
When I cried out that it
 was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed
 from the room, and I have not seen her since. By the way"--his eyes darted 
again from my
 face to Holmes's--"did you hear anything else besides a cry?"
 
 "No," said Holmes; "did you?"
 
 "No. "
 
 "Ha! What did he say?"
 
 "He was cold, but not harsh. "
 
 "I am a Mackworth of Normanton," the other answered, with some
 uneasiness of manner. Her face was haggard and thin and eager, stamped with 
the print
 of a recent horror. As she whisked round
 to us, I gave a cry of surprise and horror. "By Gar! you'd best hurry 
yourselves!" cried the man below. Christopher! it
 is indeed a fair and goodly life which you have chosen, for you gather
 up the spoil as a Warsash man gathers lobsters, without grace or favor
 from any man. "
 
 "You are right, master-shipman," said another of the older archers. "
 
 "Yes, my stepfather. "
 
 "Dear me! that is certainly remarkable. But how in the name of wonder did you 
come here, and what have
 you been doing? I thought that you were in Baker Street working out that
 case of blackmailing. "
 
 "Is it hard to know?"
 
 "Very hard. "
 
 "A call for help, you thought?"
 
 "Yes. "
 
 "We must ask about this right away. He ran out and ran in,
 smoked incessantly, played snatches on his violin, sank into reveries,
 devoured sandwiches at irregular hours, and hardly answered the casual
 questions which I put to him. He carried his head very jauntily in the air, 
had a swaggering style
 of walking, and was, above all else, remarkable for his extraordinary
 height. I cared nothing for him. The three of
 us can show a bold front to Brother Bartholomew. "What talk is this?" he 
cried. It creaked and groaned, but did not
 yield. "Go to Baker Street at once," it
 said. "Go straight back to London, instantly. "If I have not returned, wait 
for me. As it is, he must know that he will be reported to the police by the
 hotel manager and that his disappearance will be connected with the
 murder. Mortimer driving in his dog-cart
 over a rough moorland track which led from the outlying farmhouse of
 Foulmire. They had called upon us that very afternoon, so that
 it was natural that the subject should come up for discussion. "
 
 Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon
 the cushioned seat. With your
 permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into
 the inner apartment. Dear me! Mr. There was neither superscription nor 
signature. Yes, diavolo! if it had broken, my heart would have
 broken too. Watson. "
 
 "Indeed! You are alone?"
 
 "Quite. "By God's tooth!" he continued, with a brutal laugh, "you ask
 me if I am a man of quarterings, and it is even so, for I am officer
 to the verderer's court at Lyndhurst. Paul!" said Sir Nigel gayly, as he stood 
upon the poop and
 looked on either side of him, "it is a land which is very well worth
 fighting for, and it were pity to go to France for what may be had at
 home. He
 said that she would be of great size and of a yellow shade. "I did not take 
long to think about it, Watson. And now, my poor Watson, here we are, stranded 
and friendless in this
 inhospitable town, which we cannot leave without abandoning our case. There is 
some queer illness down yonder, that's
 beyond all doubt, and to-day there's a cable just come in from Singapore
 that the lighthouses are out of action in the Straits of Sundan, and two
 ships on the beach in consequence. "
 
 Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Our client, however, stared in 
amazement. Our leader moved across the river, therefore,
 and took up his position in the old fort at Agra. "
 
 "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. The light was just fading. 
He had long nerved
 himself to the sacrifice, however, and the thought of the honour and
 happiness of his daughter outweighed any regret at his ruined fortunes. "
 
 "How did you know it, then?"
 
 Mrs. Father, I am much beholden
 to this young clerk, who was of service to me and helped me this very
 morning in Minstead Woods, four miles to the north of the Christchurch
 road, where I had no call to be, you having ordered it otherwise. " All
 this she reeled off in a loud voice, and then glanced with sidelong,
 questioning eyes at Alleyne for his approval. His good-humor returned and he 
laughed. He had undoubtedly let himself down by the ivy, for we could see
 the marks of his feet where he had landed on the lawn. What was that? In the 
silence he heard a gentle scratching sound--low,
 but very distinct in the quiet of the night. On all the French marches are 
droves
 of outcasts, reivers, spoilers, and draw-latches, of whom I judge that
 these are some, though I marvel that they should dare to come so nigh
 to the castle of the seneschal. From time to time an elderly man in black with
 rounded shoulders and a long white wand in his hand came softly forth
 from this inner room, and beckoned to one or other of the company, who
 doffed cap and followed him. Right in front of us, and almost within our 
reach, was the
 broad, rounded back of Milverton. Innumerable women who
 staggered along under burdens, and children who toddled beside the
 waggons or peeped out from under the white coverings. This was evidently
 no ordinary party of immigrants, but rather some nomad people who had
 been compelled from stress of circumstances to seek themselves a new
 country. "
 
 "I am sure that you are right, Mr. "It gives me
 fresh life to know that something is being done. But you will come on, will 
you not, and see
 Merripit House?"
 
 A short walk brought us to it, a bleak moorland house, once the farm
 of some grazier in the old prosperous days, but now put into repair and
 turned into a modern dwelling. "
 
 Lord John Roxton wiped his brow. "He
 would follow Barrymore and see what he did. He was pale when we
 entered the room," said he. It was a little, single-roomed hut, sixteen feet 
by ten. On
 discovering their mistake they released him. Gomez whipped out his knife, 
however, and but for the
 huge strength of his captor, which enabled him to disarm him with one
 hand, he would certainly have stabbed him. The matter has ended in
 reprimands, the opponents have been compelled to shake hands, and there
 is every hope that all will be well. In the centre of this room there was an
 upright beam, which had been placed at some period as a support for the
 old worm-eaten baulk of timber which spanned the roof. Holmes stole across and 
looked at it. He held his open note-book
 upon his knee, and from time to time he jotted down figures and
 memoranda in the light of his pocket-lantern. Twice already in his career had 
Holmes helped him to attain success,
 his own sole reward being the intellectual joy of the problem. Then he turned 
the handle and entered, I at his
 heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. I
 could see a mile of road, but he was not on it. Mr. Abelwhite was a kind man, 
and he would often drop
 into my little shanty and smoke a pipe with me, for white folk out
 there feel their hearts warm to each other as they never do here at
 home. He had it in his head
 that the affair had been exaggerated, and that it would blow over as
 suddenly as it had sprung up. His reason for attempting this special line of 
business was that he had
 struck up an acquaintance with a consumptive tutor upon the voyage
 home, and that he had used this man's ability to make the undertaking a
 success. Are they blood stains, or mud stains, or rust stains, or fruit stains,
 or what are they? That is a question which has puzzled many an expert,
 and why? Because there was no reliable test. "
 
 Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew
 open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment
 with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with
 astonishment. As designed at first,
 no dwelling had been allotted to the lord of the castle and his family
 but the dark and dismal basement story of the keep. I crouched low
 among the bushes, for I knew from past experience that with a single
 cry the creature could bring a hundred of its loathsome mates about my
 ears. As long as this man has no idea that anyone
 can have a clue there is some chance of securing him; but if he had the
 slightest suspicion, he would change his name, and vanish in an instant
 among the four million inhabitants of this great city. It was easy to see by 
their dress and
 manner that they were two of those wandering students who formed about
 this time so enormous a multitude in every country in Europe. I had no idea 
how long he might
 be, but I sat stolidly puffing at my pipe and skipping over the pages
 of Henri Murger's "Vie de Bohème. '
 
 "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely
 depend upon my doing so. Vincent
 Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might
 prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for
 the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to
 have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for
 the address that was given us in the advertisement. I brought him his
 boots when he went for the police. "
 
 "How on earth did you do that?"
 
 "Look it up in the books, sir. Pardieu!
 I have never seen a man get off his horse as quick as did that stranger
 Englishman. Ere the words were past the other's lips he was beside him,
 his face nigh touching, and his breath hot upon his cheeks. The man
 never uttered moan nor moved muscle, but lay were he had fallen. Now, I make a 
point of never having any prejudices,
 and of following docilely wherever fact may lead me, and so, in the
 very first stage of the investigation, I found myself looking a little
 askance at the part which had been played by Mr. Smith, when
 they got the boat. His
 health--well, I don't know that it's better nor worse for the smoking. His
 face in repose was not an unpleasing one, though his heavy brows and
 aggressive chin gave him, as I had lately seen, a terrible expression
 when moved to anger. "No offense, young fellah. "Seventeen from the right and 
second from the left. This is the cave
 sure enough. The curtain was still hanging,
 but the boudoir and dressing-room could be taken as one chamber for the
 purposes of our experiment. No figures could express them. Already you see I 
had reason
 to think that, if one of your three students was a man of unusual
 height, he was the most worth watching of the three. It was on the very 
evening of our perilous adventure with Challenger's
 home-made balloon that the change came in our fortunes. " The Professors 
nodded. "Here, then, is something to try upon," quoth the archer, pulling a
 square of parchment from the inside of his tunic. The tailor's tab is on the 
neck--'Neal, Outfitter, Vermissa,
 U. "Enough of this," said my friend, coldly. "Drop that pistol! Watson,
 pick it up! Hold it to his head. "Curse you!" he cried. "Who are you
 to interfere--you that are new to the lodge? Stand back!" He raised his
 stick; but McMurdo had whipped his pistol out of his pocket. "Not 'e. "It is 
not needful that this
 priest should be called, and it is in my mind that in asking for this ye
 cast some slight shadow or slur upon the good name of my wife, as though
 it were still doubtful whether her power came to her from above or
 below. The first thing that strikes one is the obvious
 possibility that the person now in the rooms may be entirely different
 from the one who engaged them. There was some thick,
 bush-like clump which seemed to be a parasite upon a branch up which I
 was swarming. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was
 no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who,
 it seems, made his home there. "Nunc dimittis!" he cried at last. "What will 
they say in England of
 this?"
 
 "My dear Summerlee, I will tell you with great confidence exactly what
 they will say in England," said Challenger. The brothers, who were English
 to a man, pricked up their ears at the sound of the homely and yet
 unfamiliar speech; but the Abbot flushed red with anger, and struck his
 hand upon the oaken arm of his chair. Right glad was the
 traveller to see the high tower of Christchurch Priory gleaming in the
 mellow evening light, and gladder still when, on rounding a corner, he
 came upon his comrades of the morning seated astraddle upon a fallen
 tree. It was evident that we had entirely
 miscalculated his movements, that he had never been to his bedroom,
 but that he had been sitting up in some smoking or billiard room in the
 farther wing of the house, the windows of which we had not seen. "
 
 Mr. "I meant no harm, sir, I'm sure. I am this man's wife. "
 
 "Well, that makes it the more effective. "
 
 "Did he give you no address?"
 
 "He said that letters to the Hotel du Louvre, Paris, would eventually
 reach him. Occasionally in our rambles we came across Inspector Baynes. 
Clearly they
 reflected the thoughts which possessed him, but whether the music aided
 those thoughts, or whether the playing was simply the result of a whim
 or fancy was more than I could determine. That was to some extent in favour of 
the accused, as when
 seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. "
 
 "I see, he might have proved an alibi. "A plausible lawyer could make it out 
as an act of
 self-defence. The rest he handed to
 his comrade, who drank the wine, and then, to the clerk's increasing
 amazement, made a show of swallowing the bottle, with such skill
 that Alleyne seemed to see it vanish down his throat. Godfrey
 Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his
 princess. He would
 not go if he could help it. On
 no account must he leave us. Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. "
 
 "And how of yon gray turret on the left?"
 
 "'Tis the fane of St. "Shame!  Shame!"  "Give him a hearing!"
 "Put him out!"  "Shove him off the platform!"  "Fair play!" emerged
 from a general roar of amusement or execration. The chairman was on
 his feet flapping both his hands and bleating excitedly. I instantly 
communicated
 with Miss Morstan, and it only remains for us to drive out to Norwood
 and demand our share. Let me, therefore,
 return to the facts concerning Sir Henry Baskerville. I suppose that you will 
admit that the action
 is morally justifiable, though technically criminal. "'Whose was it?'
 
 "'His who is gone. '
 
 "'Who shall have it?'
 
 "'He who will come. '
 
 "'Show him round here. He had, as I understand, some sort of map or chart which
 he was comparing with the manuscript, and which he thrust into his
 pocket when you appeared. Then he burst into a
 bitter laugh. "A very commonplace little murder," said he. That is objection 
No. I don't know whether you observed it, Watson, but the
 Colonel's manner has been just a trifle cavalier to me. I called the police 
and had the place examined. "But now came the real difficulty of the inquiry. "
 
 "It would ill beseem me to claim to be a better marksman," answered
 Johnston, "for I have heard great things of your skill. Soames returned and 
called for you, you were very much
 disturbed?"
 
 "Yes, sir. Then out came my poor young master, whom I
 had dandled on my knee, and confessed it all to me. I could name a score of 
cases in which it
 would have been decisive. "
 
 "Have you her photograph?"
 
 "I brought this with me. "
 
 "Get a move on us and see all that has happened. "Does Lucy bear up well?" he 
asked,
 when he had satisfied his hunger. "Nay, not I. I had reason to think that he 
might not
 need them again, seeing that a thirty-inch shaft had feathered in his
 back. He intended to change his name altogether, draw this money, and vanish,
 starting life again elsewhere. For him the villain, for me the microbe. "
 
 "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned
 admiration. These
 were very remarkable, but as eccentric as all his other accomplishments. The 
thing to do was clearly to
 bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it
 would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and
 prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to
 come. It is the most lovely country, my
 dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house. Of course, I
 did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the
 official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family
 misfortune like this noised abroad. It was very
 long, though--almost as long, Watson, as when you and I waited in that
 deadly room when we looked into the little problem of the Speckled Band. The
 cursed greed which has been my besetting sin through life has withheld
 from her the treasure, half at least of which should have been hers. Nothing 
could have been more admirable
 than his way of putting it. It was a splendid
 chance of putting your theories into practice, Mr. From this sure post it 
makes its
 sallies even to the beginning and to the end of all things. The young novice, 
however, appeared to have other thoughts, for
 his eyes sparkled and his smile broadened. These are the
 documents in the extraordinary case of the Gloria Scott, and this is the
 message which struck Justice of the Peace Trevor dead with horror when
 he read it. I hadn't much time to make it all clear to Barker and to my
 wife; but they understood enough to be able to help me. If Sarah had been
 there, by the Lord, she should have joined them. If, on
 the other hand, as I fancy is more likely, the inmates were warned of
 your coming, and left before you entered yesterday, then they may be
 back now, and we should clear it all up easily. Let me set down exactly what 
occurred. Now it must be evident to
 you, Watson, that this young man's body was PLACED on the roof of the
 train. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you
 could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should
 do. "
 His dark brows knitted and his face flushed to a dusky red as he spoke. "What 
you say is perfectly logical, Mr. You are all turning your brains towards 
getting into this country. No powder on her
 nose--that proved to be the correct solution. It won't be
 long now before he is here to help us. ' I was convinced that
 it was an invitation which he would not refuse, since he could never
 imagine that it could come from anyone but the lady. ' Let us glance at our 
Continental
 Gazetteer. "
 
 
 Sherlock Holmes rubbed his hands with delight, and I stared with
 astonishment at our client. "My dear Watson, when
 I have exterminated that fourth egg I shall be ready to put you in touch
 with the whole situation. A few minutes later the train ran into the ill-lit 
station, and there
 was a general clearing; for Vermissa was by far the largest town on the
 line. Whether it was the weapon
 which did the deed, or whether it belonged to the dead man, I do not
 know. On the morning after our being trapped upon the plateau by the
 villainous Gomez we began a new stage in our experiences. They were close upon 
it when
 of a sudden there broke out a wild hubbub from a distant portion of the
 camp, with screams and war-cries and all the wild tumult of battle. "
 
 "I fear that Watson and I must go to London. Holmes. And you, too, Dr. "
 
 What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but
 an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must
 have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. Hudson
 entered with the tea and coffee. Don't go, doctor. "
 
 "It is eight o'clock now," I said, glancing at my watch. "
 
 "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?"
 
 "Yes. "The last words
 in it were 'For God's sake,'" he whispered, confidentially; "I am very
 anxious at getting no answer. "Precisely. "Now would you mind going down and
 fetching that poor little devil of a terrier which has been bad so long,
 and which the landlady wanted you to put out of its pain yesterday. Up to 
half-past ten the servants were moving about the house; so
 it was certainly not before that time. The first thing which I saw filled me 
with amazement. Drink and politics had
 made the Boss a very rich as well as powerful man. The more terrible,
 therefore, seemed that glimpse of the prison or the gallows which had
 risen before him the night before. Pulling up his steed, he slightly inclined 
his head, and
 sat in the stern and composed fashion with which he had borne himself
 throughout, heedless of the applauding shouts and the flutter of
 kerchiefs from the long lines of brave men and of fair women who were
 looking down upon him. "Sir knight," said the prince, "we have all marvelled 
this day at this
 great skill and valor with which God has been pleased to endow you. The 
servants had already gone
 to their quarters. A weary-looking police-sergeant reclined in the corner. 
This terrible secret
 society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the
 Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local
 branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee,
 Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Two of his guards caught him 
by the wrists
 and pulled him brutally to the front. It's
 a bad place, the great Grimpen Mire. "
 
 "You do what you think is your duty the best way you can, Councillor. "There 
was the taking of the sea-rovers, and the holding of the keep
 against the Jacks. "It may, of course, be
 trivial--individual eccentricity; or it may be very much deeper than
 appears on the surface. I put the case before you as it has
 reached me. Now, Mr. Holmes, what have you to say?"
 
 My friend waited until the door had closed behind the retreating
 secretary. '
 
 "Well, I tried one or two leads, but could get at nothing which would
 help our hypothesis, and several points which would make against it. There is, 
of
 course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the
 bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. "
 
 He was approaching the door of the house, when it opened, and a little,
 curly-headed lad of six came running out, followed by a stoutish,
 red-faced woman with a large sponge in her hand. "
 
 "Mrs. The pressman looked at him in mild surprise. We walked, and our way took 
us close to the office. "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the 
bank when a
 card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I
 saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps
 even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name
 which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest,
 noblest, most exalted names in England. One day, however, when the autumn was
 far advanced and the vacation drawing to a close, I received a telegram
 from my friend imploring me to return to Donnithorpe, and saying that
 he was in great need of my advice and assistance. This other is a milliner's
 account for thirty-seven pounds fifteen made out by Madame Lesurier,
 of Bond Street, to William Derbyshire. In order to negotiate with him they 
have to get an interpreter,
 and they pitch upon this Mr. It floods the banks, extends in
 great lagoons over a monstrous waste of country, and forms a huge
 district, called locally the Gapo, which is for the most part too
 marshy for foot-travel and too shallow for boating. And now, Doctor, we can do 
nothing until the
 answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem
 upon the shelf for the interim. Hence was it that
 the good burghers of Romsey were all in the streets, that gay flags and
 flowers brightened the path from the nunnery to the church, and that a
 long procession wound up to the old arched door leading up the bride to
 these spiritual nuptials. It is a mistake to confound strangeness with 
mystery. Terrible misfortune. Right wing three-quarter missing,
 indispensable to-morrow. Innumerable women who
 staggered along under burdens, and children who toddled beside the
 waggons or peeped out from under the white coverings. This was evidently
 no ordinary party of immigrants, but rather some nomad people who had
 been compelled from stress of circumstances to seek themselves a new
 country. 'With your leave or without it, Mr. Can
 you hear them now?"
 
 "Very far away. " I scribbled a note to my neighbor, rushed upstairs to
 explain the matter to my wife, and joined Holmes upon the door-step. "My 
name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have,
 as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful
 business. "
 
 "I congratulate you. "It was a joke, my good sir--a practical joke, nothing 
more," he whined
 incessantly. Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I
 remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the
 mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry
 eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime
 records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and
 self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. --Variable. Well up in belladonna,
 

opium, and poisons generally. For the last stand of the Company had been told 
throughout Christendom
 wherever a brave deed of arms was loved, and honors had flowed in upon
 the few who had survived it. "'There were three sisters altogether. '
 
 "'You can see where it used to be?'
 
 "'Oh, yes. "
 
 "Indeed," said Holmes. "You are mad, Mr. You shall rue it to the end
 of your days. Malone got us the chart. One man can then
 go across and the rest will cover him with guns, until he sees that it
 is safe for the whole crowd to come along. Yesterday evening I went to Esher to
 fulfil this engagement. "He had described his household to me before I went 
there. "
 
 "Not so. "By St. For this man was so swollen with pride that he would
 neither drink with us, nor sit at the same table with us, nor as much as
 answer a question, but must needs talk to the varlet all the time that
 it was well there was peace, and that he had slain more Englishmen than
 there were tags to his doublet. "The river washes along the front of the old 
fort, and so protects it,
 but on the sides and behind there are many doors, and these had to be
 guarded, of course, in the old quarter as well as in that which was
 actually held by our troops. This is straight. Was it from Mr. Or did he drop 
it in the
 carriage?  That is also possible. The mere
 fact that with a comparatively small hyperoxygenation of our blood we can
 hold out against it is surely a proof in itself that no very great change
 would be needed to enable animal life to endure it. "
 
 "I suggest that we put it in one of the huts until we can communicate
 with the police. The
 officers conducted him to the cab, but Lestrade remained. At the Lymington 
River they
 splashed through the ford, and lay in the meadows on the further side to
 eat the bread and salt meat which they carried upon the sumpter horses. 
Finally I was left in doubt as to whether it was
 animal or human. His whole bearing
 made me feel that something wonderful but dangerous lay before us. He spoke in 
a
 slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the
 impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had
 ill-usage at the hands of fortune. Of course the fog was very thick. If an 
original
 were missing they would change the whole thing. "
 
 "And how would they bring about our destruction, Mr. We all listened intently 
to the young
 man's words. '
 
 "'Five hundred a year!' I shouted. Then I swallowed
 the other, and we stood facing one another in silence for a minute or
 more, waiting to see which was to live and which was to die. Yet I have been a 
good mother to him. I shall stand
 by him, therefore, and he shall neither be put out on the road, nor
 shall his ears be offended indoors. I remember the look in
 your eyes. Their
 knights and squires, lad, are every whit as good as ours, and I could
 pick out a score of those who ride behind Du Guesclin who would hold the
 lists with sharpened lances against the best men in the army of England. Large 
and small, not less
 than a thousand of these filthy creatures lay in the hollow before us. Behind 
there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window
 could be reached from the top of the coach-house. They paused, however, at the 
bridge, and, leaning their
 elbows upon the stonework, they stood looking down at their own faces in
 the glassy stream, and at the swift flash of speckled trout against the
 tawny gravel. "
 
 "What would ye think of offering up prayer?" the man asked diffidently. "I 
will come, with pleasure," said I. I was at my wit's end where to get
 the money, but a sudden idea came to me. If I backed down I knew well what 
would
 come to me. My darling made use of the few clear days which our start had
 given us in arranging for a refuge for me in such a fashion that no
 possible danger could reach me. Every stride of the horses and every
 turn of the wheels was taking us nearer to our supreme adventure. Our 
conversation was hampered by the presence of the driver of the hired
 wagonette, so that we were forced to talk of trivial matters when our
 nerves were tense with emotion and anticipation. Might I trouble you to open 
the window, for chloroform vapour does not
 help the palate. I could manage it
 better if I were alone. On the last evening he seems to have hid himself near 
the hut in
 which we were discussing our plans, and, being observed by our huge
 negro Zambo, who is as faithful as a dog and has the hatred which all
 his race bear to the half-breeds, he was dragged out and carried into
 our presence. "Why, Holmes, you had only two yesterday. "I know a dog that 
would
 follow that scent to the world's end. "
 
 "That depends on how it turns out. Mac?"
 
 "It gives me the impression of a secret society of some sort; the same
 with his badge upon the forearm. Holmes, it's in better hands than mine. The 
idea of some ghastly presence
 constantly haunted him, and on more than one occasion he has asked me
 whether I had on my medical journeys at night ever seen any strange
 creature or heard the baying of a hound. They are
 waiting for me at the cañon. There are no inhabitants of this land of 
despair. Men who die from heart disease, or any
 sudden natural cause, never by any chance exhibit agitation upon their
 features. There is vacillation in his k's and
 self-esteem in his capitals. A
 small boy was waiting upon the platform. On the right side was a small wooden
 thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges
 stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the
 tradesmen's entrance. Alleyne might talk to her of the stories of old gods and 
heroes,
 of gallant deeds and lofty aims, or he might hold forth upon moon and
 stars, and let his fancy wander over the hidden secrets of the universe,
 and he would have a rapt listener with flushed cheeks and eloquent eyes,
 who could repeat after him the very words which had fallen from his
 lips. Once he shook both hands
 furiously in the air, and twice he sprang from his seat and hurried down
 the road. In vain were sword-sheaths, apple-branches and belts linked
 together thrown out to him by his companions. "Easy, Councillor! For heaven's 
sake, go easy!" he cried, as he dragged
 him back. McGinty released his hold, and Baldwin, cowed and shaken gasping for
 breath, and shivering in every limb, as one who has looked over the very
 edge of death, sat up on the barrel over which he had been hurled. "Brother 
Morris," said he, "you were always a croaker. We picked you up when you were 
starving in the
 desert, we shared our food with you, led you safe to the Chosen Valley,
 gave you a goodly share of land, and allowed you to wax rich under our
 protection. "
 
 "What is your plan, then?" asked Holmes, as he walked down the dark
 tree-lined road. Close behind us is the moline cross of the gallant
 William Molyneux, and beside it the bloody chevrons of the Norfork
 Woodhouses, with the amulets of the Musgraves of Westmoreland. In the waist 
gathered the Southampton mariners,
 hairy and burly men, with their jerkins thrown off, their waists braced
 tight, swords, mallets, and pole-axes in their hands. Holmes stole across and 
looked at it. If only you two know of this
 incident, there is no reason why it should go any farther. But say nothing to 
anyone upon
 the matter. Sir Oliver Buttesthorn with his men-at-arms
 had swarmed down from the forecastle, while Sir Nigel, with his three
 squires, Black Simon, Aylward, Hordle John, and a score more, threw
 themselves from the poop and hurled themselves into the thickest of the
 fight. Alleyne sprang in front of the Norman, but his
 sword was shattered and he himself beaten to the ground by a second
 blow from the ponderous weapon. "The Lord Loring commands," said the boy, 
"that you will follow me to
 the great chamber, and await him there. " He stepped past and laid his hand 
upon the
 glossy neck of the thoroughbred. "Do you tell me," said the sergeant, "that 
the wedding ring was BELOW
 the other?"
 
 "Always!"
 
 "Then the murderer, or whoever it was, first took off this ring you call
 the nugget ring, then the wedding ring, and afterwards put the nugget
 ring back again. "
 
 Dr. You may possibly remember that you chaffed me a
 little, some hours ago, when the sun seemed on your side of the hedge,
 so you must not grudge me a little pomp and ceremony now. Perhaps Miss Ettie 
can tell you something about it. God He knows that I am unworthy of such honor, 
yet I can show my
 four-and-sixty quarterings, and I have been present at some bickerings
 and scufflings during these twenty years. 

CHAPTER VII
 
 

"To-morrow we Disappear into the Unknown"
 
 I will not bore those whom this narrative may reach by an account of
 our luxurious voyage upon the Booth liner, nor will I tell of our
 week's stay at Para (save that I should wish to acknowledge the great
 kindness of the Pereira da Pinta Company in helping us to get together
 our equipment). But
 

anon their bemused wits awoke to the nature of the deed
 

which was like to be done upon the moorlands. And even as they looked the thing
 

tore the throat out of Hugo Baskerville, on which, as it
 

turned its blazing eyes and dripping jaws upon them, the
 

three shrieked with fear and rode for dear life, still
 

screaming, across the moor. From an official
 point of view it's simply awful. That angular shadow up yonder was the bait, 
and we were the
 hunters. And now,
 Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. "
 
 
 It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his
 excursion. I could distinctly see the isolated, tree-crowned
 pinnacle of rock which was detached from the crag. Soames he went for you. 
Shall I do so? Well, well, don't trouble to
 answer. It was but for
 a moment, for the action of the alkaloid is rapid. It
 is evidently the theory of some arm-chair lounger who evolves all these
 neat little paradoxes in the seclusion of his own study. The funds of the 
society were
 raised by blackmailing rich Italians and threatening them with violence
 should they refuse the money. They had scarce reached
 it, however, ere they found that the wooden joists and planks of the
 flooring were already on fire. Mr. Douglas gave it up. No, she was not 
hurrying; it did not seem to him that she was
 particularly agitated. "John, show these gentlemen out!" A pompous
 butler ushered us severely to the door, and we found ourselves in the
 street. Holmes burst out laughing. I knew that someone
 had entered the house cautiously from without. "
 
 "There you are," said Holmes, smiling. "Anyone but a blind man could do as 
much," the other answered. She laughed at the compliment. I took her part, got 
her into a cab, and here we are. When the offer was first made, I little 
thought the turn which
 events might take. I had no
 difficulty in finding her rooms, which were central and well appointed. That 
is the situation for the discussion of which I have
 made a claim of urgency. Least of
 all does the maiden herself know it until the tone of a voice or the
 touch of a hand sets her heart thrilling within her, and she learns,
 with a mixture of pride and of fear, that a new and a larger nature has
 awoken within her. There are few who cannot recall that day and remember
 the one little incident which heralded the dawn of a new life. Which is it to 
be, death or life?  We can only
 give you three minutes to decide, for the time is passing, and all must
 be done before the rounds come again. The Simpson incident had shown me that a 
dog was kept in the stables,
 and yet, though some one had been in and had fetched out a horse, he
 had not barked enough to arouse the two lads in the loft. "
 
 "How did the burglar know no one would hear it? How dared he pull at a
 bell-rope in that reckless fashion?"
 
 "Exactly, Mr. He denied it, however, with the utmost
 earnestness, and I am convinced that he was speaking the truth. I mentioned it 
to Mr. One day
 my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the
 metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. "'You blackguard!' I shouted, 
beside myself with rage. The purchase will be completed in a week, and
 meanwhile you will remain in Birmingham and make yourself useful. But at last 
he thought
 he saw his chance. We soon, however,
 had another and a more striking proof that there were secret agencies
 at work all round us. We were all assembled round him when the door
 opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. We must have something 
definite. "
 
 "Very," said Holmes. I gripped myself hard, and went on
 with the argument. "
 
 "You must remember," said Summerlee, sourly, "that I have a large class
 in London who are at present at the mercy of an extremely inefficient
 locum tenens. "
 
 "Good heaven! Did no one examine?"
 
 "Yes, I examined, myself. "
 
 "And beyond that, fair son?"
 
 "Beyond that is Jerusalem and the Holy Land, and the great river which
 hath its source in the Garden of Eden. Her
 initials were L. The first impression left by Mrs. I will explain the events 
which led up to it
 as shortly and as clearly as I can, though I am well aware that the
 fuller the detail upon such a subject the more welcome it will be to the
 reader, for the public curiosity has been and still is insatiable. Theirs was 
the spirit
 which upheld Darwin among the gauchos of the Argentine or Wallace among
 the head-hunters of Malaya. It is decreed by a merciful Nature that
 the human brain cannot think of two things simultaneously, so that if
 it be steeped in curiosity as to science it has no room for merely
 personal considerations. As to the pistol, you'll find it waiting
 for you, or I'm mistaken. Trevor make a sort of
 hiccoughing noise in his throat, and jumping out of his chair, he ran
 into the house. "'What is his name?' asked my host. "'He would not give any. '
 
 "'What does he want, then?'
 
 "'He says that you know him, and that he only wants a moment's
 conversation. It was a labyrinth of an old house,
 with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little
 low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the
 generations who had crossed them. Your bones will whiten up
 there, and none will know where you lie or come to cover them. Why then should 
you, who are soldiers of the Spirit, be
 ever moping or hiding in cell or in cave, with minds full of your own
 concerns, while the world, which you should be mending, is going on its
 way, and neither sees nor hears you? Were ye all as thoughtless of your
 own souls as the soldier is of his body, ye would be of more avail to
 the souls of others. Besides, remember that she
 had resolved to use it within a few days. She
 is four-and-twenty. "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing 
in my
 room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw,
 to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the
 street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. Neville St. Clair, of
 Lee, in the county of Kent. And
 what do you think they found in the pockets?"
 
 "I cannot imagine. How came the stone into the goose, and how came
 the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies
 your only hope of safety. "It is not our custom in Spain to reward pertness in 
a messenger," Don
 Pedro answered, patting the head of his greyhound. He
 read the passage aloud. "Let me have the Hotel Directory," said Holmes. "Then 
we must send them up Sir Oliver Buttesthorn," quoth Ford. Adieu, ma vie! The 
two livres shall settle the
 score and buy some ribbons against the next kermesse. Do not forget Sam
 Aylward, for his heart shall ever be thine alone--and thine, ma petite!
 So, marchons, and may St. Holmes. Several rolls of paper were within,
 covered with figures and calculations, without any note to show to what
 they referred. "Caught cold, Watson?" said he. "No, it's this poisonous 
atmosphere. "
 
 "Dear me! Why, I could have sworn to it. "You see, a good many of the criminal 
classes begin to know
 me,--especially since our friend here took to publishing some of my
 cases:  so I can only go on the war-path under some simple disguise
 like this. "Here's the agreement on the
 side-table. Athelney Jones," said Holmes,
 quietly. For myself, I felt elated at the thought that we
 were nearing the end of our task, and I caught something of Holmes's
 gaiety. There is the secret of that Cornish
 seclusion which people have marvelled at. The next day it came
 out in the evening papers that Private Miles, of the Coldstream Guards,
 on duty outside Marlborough House, had deserted his post without leave,
 and was therefore courtmartialed. Her officers were the same as in '95, with 
one
 exception. As she whisked round
 to us, I gave a cry of surprise and horror. It was a few weeks before my own 
marriage, during the days when I
 was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came
 home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table
 waiting for him. CHAPTER VIII. HOW SIR NIGEL SOUGHT FOR A WAYSIDE VENTURE. "
 
 
 The night had already fallen, and the moon was shining between the rifts
 of ragged, drifting clouds, before Alleyne Edricson, footsore and weary
 from the unwonted exercise, found himself in front of the forest inn
 which stood upon the outskirts of Lyndhurst. "Art from Oxenford or from 
Cambridge? Hast
 thou a letter from the chancellor of thy college giving thee a permit
 to beg? Let me see thy letter. "This is indeed a day of
 comings and of goings. I can press it back, and here is the roof itself, 
sloping at a gentle
 angle. We had got well out
 on the country road, when a somewhat mortifying incident occurred. I made for 
the boat, and in an hour we were well out at sea. As I passed
 out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of
 the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Some weeks afterwards I 
learned incidentally that my
 friend spent a day at Windsor, whence he returned with a remarkably
 fine emerald tie-pin. Memory, at least, will never fail me, for
 so long as the breath of life is in me, every hour and every action of
 that period will stand out as hard and clear as do the first strange
 happenings of our childhood. No new impressions could efface those
 which are so deeply cut. What could be better for the purpose? Say again, 
then, Sahib, whether
 you are with us, or if we must look upon you as an enemy. The various checks 
which influence the
 struggle for existence in the world at large are all neutralized or
 altered. When finished, the busts were
 put on a table in the passage to dry, and afterwards stored. He had tied his 
cord to the hook on which the heavy
 lamp used to hang, and he had jumped off from the top of the very box
 that he showed us yesterday. "He is coming," he said. "You've got us 
side-tracked with your
 interesting anecdotes, Mr. Holmes. I had smoked two cigarettes
 before he moved. "
 
 "Then how is it that you did not go?"
 
 "Because I received help in the interval from another source. "
 
 "He would be the heir to the estate because that is entailed. "
 
 "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. "
 
 "Nay, the prince would not permit it. He retained it in his hand after using 
it to set the hound
 upon the track. '
 
 "'That is true. It is the German who is so
 uncourteous to his verbs. The
 same singularly proud and reserved nature which turned away with disdain
 from popular notoriety was capable of being moved to its depths by
 spontaneous wonder and praise from a friend. Twice ere
 they reached open ground they had to break their way through small
 bodies of horses, and once there came a whistle of arrows and singing of
 stones about their ears; but, still dashing onwards, they shot out
 from among the tents and found their own comrades retreating for the
 mountains at no very great distance from them. Finally we pulled the
 boats up among the brushwood and spent the night on the bank of the
 river. Then he wrote a long telegram upon a
 cable form. But who could that have been, and how could he have got
 away?"
 
 "That is the problem which we are now about to solve," said Sherlock
 Holmes. The features are given to man as the
 means by which he shall express his emotions, and yours are faithful
 servants. For fifteen hundred miles one
 may trace this ghastly caravan route by these scattered remains of those
 who had fallen by the wayside. Then, as quick as a flash, came an expression 
of overpowering
 fear. You may have observed that some of
 them were marked with ticks, and the others--the great majority--were
 not. You cursed fools, you
 are trapped, every one of you!"
 
 We were too astounded to speak. G. '  That is
 two days after Mrs. I had thought of a great office with
 shining tables and rows of clerks, such as I was used to, and I dare say
 I stared rather straight at the two deal chairs and one little table,
 which, with a ledger and a waste paper basket, made up the whole
 furniture. A long black shadow was trailing down
 the corridor. She states that while she was there she
 saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. "The newcomers were 
Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man
 with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double
 chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. "
 
 Edricson came, however, of that sturdy Saxon blood which is very slowly
 heated, but once up not easily to be cooled. "
 
 "But you haven't helped me. Sherlock Holmes welcomed
 her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and,
 having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked
 her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was
 peculiar to him. "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and
 patting her forearm. "But
 why is it, my good fellow, that you sit upon this man. Oh! I know that he is 
right. James never did
 it. "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he
 threw himself down into his chair once more. "
 
 "You seem to take it for granted, Challenger," said Summerlee, "that the
 object for which this world was created was that it should produce and
 sustain human life. Colonel
 Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I
 should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the
 time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. As to Holmes, he 
returned refreshed to his monograph upon
 the Polyphonic Motets of Lassus, which has since been printed for
 private circulation, and is said by experts to be the last word upon
 the subject. "There is little I can tell you, sir. "Who was your accomplice who
 came for the ring which I advertised?"
 
 The prisoner winked at my friend jocosely. "Not 'e. "It must be Maple White's. 
"It
 makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on
 whom I can thoroughly rely. "
 
 "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. "I guess you're 
the same in all places, shoving
 your advice in when nobody asks for it. Yes, I could
 see it, too. One was the harpoon with which the deed
 was committed. Windibank, asking
 him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow
 evening. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we
 should marry before father came back. "
 
 Mr. "Our quest is practically finished. No doubt
 it's just as they say. "
 
 "Where is Bannister now?"
 
 "He was very ill, poor fellow. But he was
 dead before he fell. "They will soon come now, Massa Malone. They must have 
thought that there was
 some chance of their being followed, for they would never go out alone,
 and never after nightfall. They know--and
 shall know--nothing of Whitehall Terrace. Milverton will send the
 letters to the Earl unless a large sum of money is paid him. He is known to 
have held papers which he used for blackmailing
 purposes. In the character of a registration-agent I had a most interesting
 gossip with his landlady. After a
 little hesitation, then, I screwed up my courage and continued upon my
 way, my useless gun under my arm. It was a useless attempt. "
 
 Percy Phelps and his nurse looked at Holmes during this demonstration
 with surprise and a good deal of disappointment written upon their
 faces. "Come, Watson," said he, and we passed from that house of grief into the
 pale sunlight of the winter day. "He may be the better judge, since he
 hath no call to side with either of us. "
 
 "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his
 hands. "
 
 "It is such men as he," Sir Nigel remarked, "who give the true knight
 honorable deeds to do, whereby he may advance himself. I was shaving at my 
window in
 the morning when I heard the rattle of hoofs and, looking up, saw a
 dog-cart coming at a gallop down the road. "
 
 "A large-scale map, I presume?"
 
 "Very large. He was a very restless gentleman, sir, a-walkin'
 and a-stampin' all the time he was here. "
 
 "Well, bar the expression, that might almost be a description of Douglas
 himself," said Holmes. It cuts no ice with a British copper to tell
 him you're an American citizen. Come round here. It is within a hundred yards
 of the hall door. "  (I was
 inclined to interpolate, as I looked at him, that I had seen his first
 cousin in Kensington. "How could they have got on to Steiner?" he muttered. 
"That's the
 worst blow yet. It's open just as it was found last night. "
 
 "Maybe he won't come. Now cast your mind back, Holmes. Lord John comes over to 
me, and we look out together into the
 night. "Shoot into the thick of them!  Shoot! sonny, shoot!" cried my
 companion. There are strange red depths in the soul of the most commonplace 
man. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when,
 after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I
 found myself inside the bedroom. "
 
 "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. Know then that though there may 
be peace between our own provinces and
 the French, yet within the marches of France there is always war, for
 the country is much divided against itself, and is furthermore harried
 by bands of flayers, skinners, Brabacons, tardvenus, and the rest of
 them. It is also of the exact weight of two
 pounds, so that I may use it in the balance. The details are
 still to be added. "
 
 "But a blow! a blow!" cried several of the older squires. "
 
 "You were travelling in the States?"
 
 "Yes. "A more perfect compound of the bully, coward, and sneak than Master
 Silas Brown I have seldom met with," remarked Holmes as we trudged along
 together. An unsuccessful lover might have killed Mr. "
 
 We were all astonished by the appearance of the apartment into which he
 invited us. Pray give my
 greetings to Mrs. "
 
 "'What are my duties?' I asked. "I've had my eye on
 him this year past. "
 
 "I'm expecting the end of the world to-day, Austin. Might I venture?"
 
 "No, sir, no--certainly not. "Thank you. "May I see your father
 if I call to-morrow?"
 
 "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it. He is big enough and old enough to 
look after
 himself, and if he is so foolish as to lose himself, I entirely refuse
 to accept the responsibility of hunting for him. In short, Watson, it is a very
 common book. We are faddy people, you
 know--faddy but kind-hearted. What think you of it, my worthy Captal? He took 
you at
 Cocherel, and, by my soul! you will have the chance now to pay that
 score. "Interview with Mr. Soley Wilson. " "Famous Specialist says
 'Never despair!'" "Our Special Correspondent found the eminent scientist
 seated upon the roof, whither he had retreated to avoid the crowd of
 terrified patients who had stormed his dwelling. "Why, man, you're crazy," he
 said. "The truth is that the gentleman told me that he was a
 detective and that I was to say nothing about him to anyone. "I am the
 last and highest court of appeal in detection. Sherlock Holmes, and I am aware 
of your
 profession--one of which I by no means approve. You compel me to tell you
 that this is too serious a matter to be treated in such a fashion. You must 
assert that in such
 words as will carry conviction with them. "
 
 Holmes smiled, and clapped Lestrade upon the shoulder. I was still looking 
rather ruefully after the rapidly disappearing
 luggage-van which contained my wardrobe, when Holmes pulled my sleeve
 and pointed up the line. He had resumed his seat, the cigar still projecting 
at an insolent
 angle from the corner of his mouth. Hordle
 John was stripped from his waist upwards, and his huge body, with his
 great muscles swelling out like the gnarled roots of an oak, towered
 high above the soldier. Alleyne, all unnerved at so strange and unwonted a
 sight, shrunk up against the wall with his eyes fixed upon the frenzied
 creature, which came bounding along with ungainly speed, looking the
 larger in the uncertain light, its huge jaws agape, with blood and
 slaver trickling to the ground. Du Guesclin eyed her
 keenly from time to time, and passed his broad brown fingers through his
 crisp, curly black hair with the air of a man who is perplexed in his
 mind. "These folk here," said the knight of Bohemia, "they do not seem too
 well fed. "
 
 "We are to wait here?"
 
 "Yes, we shall make our little ambush here. "
 
 "If I could only get a single good, meaty sentence which seemed to
 convey some sort of definite human idea, it would serve my turn. "You
 came in as the knight does in the jongleur's romances, between dragon
 and damsel, with small time for the asking of questions. Watson; but it is 
this way," said he:
 "When I was speaking to the other chap in London, at the time that he
 laughed at my not going to Mawson's, I happened to notice that his tooth
 was stuffed in this very identical fashion. Your room is at the Westville 
Arms. Yes, my young
 friend," he added to the American reporter, with a sudden mood of amused
 geniality, "it may interest you to know that the world has swum through
 the poisonous current which swirls like the Gulf Stream through the ocean
 of ether. McFarlane in at half-past nine. She wished
 her hand had withered before she had done so. He slowed
 also. Perhaps it
 would be best for you if you never heard from the fellow at all. Mr. 
Williamson was the name of the tenant. There is some rumor that he is or has 
been a clergyman, but
 one or two incidents of his short residence at the Hall struck me as
 peculiarly unecclesiastical. "
 
 "There are Frenchmen among them, my fair lord," remarked Black Simon. We took 
Toby round to each in turn, but, though he
 sniffed earnestly, he made no sign. You know, Watson, I don't mind confessing 
to you that I have
 always had an idea that I would have made a highly efficient criminal. But you
 vill find other lodgings, mister. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. 
These were the two men who entered abruptly into our little
 sitting-room on Tuesday, March the 16th, shortly after our breakfast
 hour, as we were smoking together, preparatory to our daily excursion
 upon the moors. It is a hat of the very best quality. But beware of what?  
Wait a bit, he is coming to the
 window once more. "For my own part," the Duke continued, "I have advised the 
police to
 turn their attention to the south of France. "Think of my father! Of my 
mother! It would break their hearts. The sailing ships too--how they will back 
and
 fill with their cargoes of dead sailors, while their timbers rot and
 their joints leak, till one by one they sink below the surface. But there were 
ample signs that I had not come upon a false scent. Henderson, of High Gable, 
was by all accounts a
 curious man to whom curious adventures might befall. Joshua Stone, Nether 
Walsling. "This is a very obvious way of limiting our field of operations," said
 Holmes. It
 is almost a facsimile. My brother
 and I rushed towards the window, but the man was gone. "
 
 "I heard a cry also. "I frankly admit that
 I am unable to prove it. "
 
 "Indeed I have, sir. "As it stands, not one farthing shall you have with my 
free
 will, and when I see my brother, the Socman of Minstead, he will raise
 hue and cry from vill to vill, from hundred to hundred, until you are
 taken as a common robber and a scourge to the country. I saw him once look 
hard over my
 shoulder, so I turned round and looked also. 'I
 want her to-night at eight o'clock,' said he,--'eight o'clock sharp,
 mind, for I have two gentlemen who won't be kept waiting. Ha! by the five 
wounds, many men of war have drunk my wine, but
 never one was more to my fancy than this little Englishman. And you have no 
doubt that it is your husband's
 hand, madam?"
 
 "None. Her attack and her bowing
 are splendid. I had raised my hat and was about to make some explanatory
 remark when her own words turned all my thoughts into a new channel. 450 
Express and the
 fowlin'-piece, the shorter one with the rubbered stock, and a clip or two
 of cartridges--just a fool's fancy, of course, but there it is. How does
 it strike you, Herr Professor?"
 
 "Well," said Summerlee, "since you ask my opinion, it strikes me as an
 indefensible throwback to the Stone Age or before it. How the Company Made 
Sport in the Vale of Pampeluna
 XXXV. How Samkin Aylward Wagered his Feather-bed
 VII. Never had he heard such jargon of
 scholastic philosophy, such fine-drawn distinctions, such cross-fire of
 major and minor, proposition, syllogism, attack and refutation. I
 am reckoned fleet of foot, but he outpaced me as much as I outpaced the
 little professional. "
 
 "Well, that makes it the more effective. "
 
 "Where did the money come from?"
 
 "That was all right. "Twice have we come
 scathless out of peril, and now for the third time I commend me to the
 blessed James of Compostella, to whom I vow----"
 
 "Nay, nay, old friend," whispered Sir Nigel. "You are like to bring a
 judgment upon us with these vows, which no living man could accomplish. That 
fire is miles on the farther side of it. It
 indicates a confederate at the other end. My companion was in the best of 
spirits, and prattled away
 about Cremona fiddles, and the difference between a Stradivarius and
 an Amati. "I very well remember the sensation which was caused by the
 disappearance of Captain Morstan. Barker;
 but it would come with a better grace from you. "
 
 "Oh, you think so, do you? Well, all I can say is that if there's any
 secret here it is not my secret, and I am not the man to give it away. I have 
wired to get his name and address from the Official
 Registry. "
 
 "Precisely. Holmes. I've had a bustling afternoon, I promise you. And yet I 
can't get
 out of doing business with him--indeed, he is here at my invitation. Do you
 note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of
 you we have from all quarters received. "Wonderful! You might have been there!"
 
 "My final shot was, I confess a very long one. It struck me that so
 astute a man as Straker would not undertake this delicate tendon-nicking
 without a little practice. They were grave, it is true, and thoughtful,
 but of an invincible serenity. So I could do nothing. On the farm thus 
acquired John Ferrier built himself a substantial
 log-house, which received so many additions in succeeding years that it
 grew into a roomy villa. A desk
 stood in the centre, with a turning-chair of shining red leather. Nothing
 was moved before I got there, and strict orders were given that no
 one should walk upon the paths leading to the house. '
 
 "'Then let me do so?'
 
 "'No, I forbid you. '
 
 "So I had to be content with that, though it was the first time that
 there had ever been any secret between us. From
 the centre of this branch there hung a man, with his head at a horrid
 slant to his body and his toes just touching the ground. '
 
 "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who
 would apply. In dress now, for example. "It had been used for the storage of 
wood, but the billets, which had
 evidently been littered over the floor, were now piled at the sides, so
 as to leave a clear space in the middle. Hold it up to the light. "
 
 I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a
 large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. "
 
 "I should not go so far as to say that, Watson. When they were dressed they 
found that the others had stolen out,
 leaving the door open behind them. "
 
 When we returned to Mrs. "Will you go?"
 
 "I really don't know what to say. Tarp Henry looked thoughtful. "  At the same 
time I
 was aware that a tall, thin man, with dark gingery hair, a few seats in
 front of me, was also upon his feet. It came
 out upon the landing opposite to a second more ornamental stair which
 came up from the front hall. He kept the
 key in his pocket, made his own bed, cleaned it himself, and allowed no
 other foot to cross the threshold. "He looks like a beaten man," cried Phelps. 
Now, attention, friend, and let
 your ears work as well as your nether jaw. "
 
 The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his
 breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes?  Have you a clue?"
 
 "An idea--an indication, no more. "
 
 "We must wire to Mawson's. Jones, but I will make you a free
 present of the name and description of one of the two people who were
 in this room last night. There was one man at the
 rudder, one to tend the engines, and two burly police-inspectors
 forward. "Then for the first time the horror of my situation came in its full
 force. I think that we should begin by seeing Forbes. Here is the message. 
Slowly the long and glittering train wound into the
 lists, until every horse had been tethered by the varlets in waiting,
 and every lord and lady seated in the long stands which stretched, rich
 in tapestry and velvet and blazoned arms, on either side of the centre
 of the arena. The holders of the lists occupied the end which was nearest to 
the city
 gate. They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on
 the distaff side. And well they strove to keep
 their vow!
 
 From Chicago he was chased, after two attempts so near success that
 it was sure that the third would get him. All this, Dr. I'll let you have 
pocket-money and everything. "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little 
huffed. 'Which is it
 you want, then?'
 
 "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the
 flock. '
 
 "'Oh, very well. '
 
 "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. "'No, I know no one in these parts. '
 
 "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to
 him to go away. Proceed. '
 
 "Dr. "
 
 I was staring at the strange message which I had scrawled, as he
 deciphered it, upon a sheet of foolscap on my knee. "
 
 "They shut at twelve on Saturdays. He calls attention, and with reason, to the 
discrepancy about his
 father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his
 refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and
 his singular account of his father's dying words. "This is really 
intolerable!" he cried, glaring across the platform. There is no name," said 
she, smoothing it out upon the
 counter. "
 
 "Meaning that you saw none?"
 
 "I assure you, sir, that there were none. After throwing down your paper, 
which was the
 action which drew my attention to you, you sat for half a minute with
 a vacant expression. Would you kindly look at this?"
 
 He handed me a photograph--half-plate size. Summerlee serve on such a 
committee and test his story in person?
 
 Mr. Then in a moment came the panic and the collapse. It was clearly some 
notable job which
 needed numbers. And so the blood-mottled figure had been left as a warning to 
all
 such hard-hearted employers, and the three noble avengers had hurried
 off into the mountains where unbroken nature comes down to the very
 edge of the furnaces and the slag heaps. Bender, he was the fust to go, and 
then Indian
 Pete, and then Mrs. McGregor, and then Johnny Hones, and then, dearie,
 your mother. "
 
 "Then mother's a deader too," cried the little girl dropping her face in
 her pinafore and sobbing bitterly. The mirror
 was so placed that, seated in the dark, we could very plainly see the
 door opposite. "
 
 "And then?"
 
 "Then Nancy fainted, and I caught up the key of the door from her hand,
 intending to unlock it and get help. He was brought up and remanded for 
further inquiries. What was in the letter
 we could never discover, but I could see as he held it that it was
 short and written in a scrawling hand. "No, no. It's among the trees there. 
You'll never pass as
 a pure-bred civilian as long as you keep that habit of carrying your
 handkerchief in your sleeve. We have our own ways and methods, different from
 Chicago. Please come
 yourself first and tell us what you know. "
 
 Our client looked down with a rueful face at his own unconventional
 appearance. Holmes had brought with him
 the carpet slippers from the hall. As Ames had observed, the soles of
 both were dark with blood. I
 knew not what wild beast we were about to hunt down in the dark jungle
 of criminal London, but I was well assured, from the bearing of this
 master huntsman, that the adventure was a most grave one--while the
 sardonic smile which occasionally broke through his ascetic gloom boded
 little good for the object of our quest. Then the
 charge against him will break down. Maybe he did split. The man who
 held me seemed to know my thoughts; for, even as I braced myself to it,
 he whispered, 'Don't make a noise. They had scarce reached
 it, however, ere they found that the wooden joists and planks of the
 flooring were already on fire. From below the two glowing ends of
 their cigars might have been the smouldering eyes of some malignant
 fiend looking down in the darkness. The clink of crossing sword-blades, the 
dull thudding of heavy blows,
 the panting and gasping of weary and wounded men, all rose together in
 a wild, long-drawn note, which swelled upwards to the ears of the
 wondering peasants who looked down from the edges of the cliffs upon the
 swaying turmoil of the battle beneath them. There is a double league which 
makes a fair balance of military
 power. "
 
 "How?"
 
 "Well, by his insufferable rudeness and impossible behavior. It is quite clear 
that the colonel was a cool and
 desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should
 stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out
 pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. I have no doubt at 
all that a family mannerism can be traced in
 these two specimens of writing. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. His 
face was
 ashy pale, beads of perspiration shone upon his brow, and his hands
 shook until the hunting-crop wagged like a branch in the wind. A Flandrish hat 
of beevor, bearing in the band
 the token of Our Lady of Embrun, was drawn low upon the left side to
 hide that ear which had been partly shorn from his head by a Flemish
 man-at-arms in a camp broil before Tournay. Alleyne, on the other
 hand, must trust for his defence to his quick eye and active foot--for
 his sword, though keen as a whetstone could make it, was of a light and
 graceful build with a narrow, sloping pommel and a tapering steel. Tranter 
well knew his advantage and lost no time in putting it to use. As his opponent 
walked towards him he suddenly bounded forward and sent
 in a whistling cut which would have severed the other in twain had he
 not sprung lightly back from it. "
 
 "So far as I can follow you, then, Mr. It was never quite out of his
 mind. "
 
 "At once?"
 
 "Well, as soon as you conveniently can. "I wish you
 would come back with me, Inspector," said he. It was unfortunately lost with 
so much else in the same
 boat accident which ruined my photographs. His father could trace his pure 
Saxon lineage back to that Godfrey Malf
 who had held the manors of Bisterne and of Minstead at the time when the
 Norman first set mailed foot upon English soil. He stooped his head to hers, 
and she raised
 one hand as if in protest. Putting out my hand I felt
 several coats hanging from the wall, and I understood that I was in a
 passage. "And all in four years, Baron. It was Neville St. "
 
 "Then for four hours the despatch-box had lain unguarded?"
 
 "No one is ever permitted to enter that room save the house-maid in the
 morning, and my valet, or my wife's maid, during the rest of the day. His wild 
eyes, stained cheeks,
 and unkempt hair all spoke of the sudden blow which had fallen upon the
 household. Then, having left the
 door open behind him, he was leading the horse away over the moor, when
 he was either met or overtaken by the trainer. " That was Charles the Second,
 whose advent was already foreseen. "Don't tell me that you're Marvin of the 
Chicago
 Central!" he cried. But I am sure that it will interest Mr. So you can make up 
your
 soul, young fellah my lad, for it will be one way or the other before
 evenin'. "I stood up and examined the rocky wall behind me. "'Answer me 
frankly,' he continued, 'for you will find it to your
 interest to do so. You have all the cleverness which makes a successful
 man. "
 
 "You were told, no doubt. "
 
 "But might be recognized as proofs?"
 
 "Possibly. At the end of Broad Street it ran right down to
 the water's edge, where there was a small wooden wharf. CHAPTER X. HOW THERE 
WAS STIR AT THE ABBEY OF ST. Even the squires' table at the Abbey of St. "I 
tell you again, Mr. "Before I go into the dining-room, I should like to
 hear your experience. But if it was not he,
 it must have been Alec Cunningham himself, for by the time that the old
 man had descended several servants were upon the scene. A train of coal trucks 
stood motionless upon the line. Our gas was lit
 and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for
 the table had not been cleared yet. I sat in
 front with the chauffeur, but behind me my three comrades seemed to me to
 be all talking together. '
 
 "I assured him that I was not offended. '
 
 "PROFESSOR SUMMERLEE (springing to his feet):  'Might I explain, your
 Grace, that this man is my personal enemy ever since our controversy in
 the Quarterly Journal of Science as to the true nature of Bathybius?'
 
 "THE CHAIRMAN:  'I fear I cannot go into personal matters. "
 
 "By Gar! I believe you are right," said McGinty. He was wrongfully accused of 
cheating at cards. Footmarks of both men could be made out on the carpet,
 but none of any third person, which again is a trick for the other
 side. They were piling up their score all the time and we were at a
 standstill. Here, for
 example, is one 'Upon the Distinction between the Ashes of the Various
 Tobaccoes. "
 
 "But, father," quoth Alleyne, "the holy Elisha was bald, which brought
 down upon him the revilements of the wicked children. An instant afterwards he 
had closed the door
 behind us, and we had become felons in the eyes of the law. The use of 
artificial means to make the
 creature diabolical was a flash of genius upon his part. There, sure enough, I 
perceived a number of flaky ashes, and round the
 edges a fringe of brownish powder, which had not yet been consumed. Through 
all this motley assemblage, threading her way with the
 skill of an accomplished rider, there galloped Lucy Ferrier, her fair
 face flushed with the exercise and her long chestnut hair floating out
 behind her. Now
 the cog's head was turned Francewards, and the shipman walked the deck,
 a peaceful master-mariner once more. In the first place, we may start with a 
strong
 presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for
 leaving America. A tall, thin white man was
 standing beside them, his head bowed, his arms folded, his whole
 attitude expressive of his horror and dejection. Holmes tied the dog to the 
hedge, and we hastened
 onward. I knew that someone
 had entered the house cautiously from without. I know now that I cannot have 
the
 use of it, and I know that they cannot. "
 
 "The exact date is 1742. "There are two words in
 this matter. Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third
 of which were open. It was
 terrible and amazing to see such a woman so convulsed with joy at such
 a sight. Sometimes he spent his day at the chemical
 laboratory, sometimes in the dissecting-rooms, and occasionally in long
 walks, which appeared to take him into the lowest portions of the City. As to 
the housekeeper,
 she had heard nothing on the night of the crime. Then
 of course I saw exactly what it all meant. As I passed his pew on
 the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the
 note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. I did not know how this 
Agra treasure had
 weighed me down, until now that it was finally removed. But
 I cared a great deal for the much more formidable person who was behind
 him, the bosom friend of Moriarty, the man who dropped the rocks over
 the cliff, the most cunning and dangerous criminal in London. L. "
 
 "Have you got that slip?"
 
 "No, sir, it crumbled all to bits after we moved it. "
 
 "I understand you to say that your room is on the second floor, that
 there is no entrance from without, and that from within no one could go
 up unobserved. Summerlee asked if he might light his pipe, and we all had
 cigarettes. Summerlee:  "Yes, I will. "  (Great cheering. Sherlock Holmes rose
 softly and moved his chair in the direction of the door. The future will show 
which
 is right. The
 conclusions of every department are passed to him, and he is the
 central exchange, the clearinghouse, which makes out the balance. Through the 
gateway we passed into the avenue, where the wheels were
 again hushed amid the leaves, and the old trees shot their branches in a
 sombre tunnel over our heads. Out of the black
 shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright,
 now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of
 the metal pipes. The swing
 skylights above the saloon table had been a bit open, and they had fired
 on us through the slit. "'Come, now, Mr. Holmes,' said he, laughing 
good-humoredly. 'You
 really must, you know. '
 
 "What do you think of that, Watson?" cried Holmes in high glee, rubbing
 his hands together with satisfaction. 'I suppose that you can get
 rid of your boarders when you wish. ' Then, as I tried to shake her off, she 
clung to
 me in a frenzy of entreaty. Was
 Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. Or did he drop it 
in the
 carriage?  That is also possible. It's about
 Isa. He has not been home for two days. You
 will understand now how it was that I strove to keep the peace with him,
 and you will in some measure sympathize with me in the fears which fill
 me, now that he has gone from me to his other victim with threats upon
 his tongue. We have had
 for some years in this household a housekeeper--one Sarah, with whose
 second name I have never attempted to burden my memory. "
 
 A few minutes later we were in the study. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon 
some
 other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to
 Mr. If you will come round once more to my rooms at six o'clock to-morrow, I
 think I shall be able to show you that even now you have not grasped the
 entire meaning of this business, which presents some features which make
 it absolutely original in the history of crime. I know a good woman in the 
place I come from, and it's
 there I'd leave you till we can get married. They
 exactly correspond, so I gather that the lady went back to the same
 establishment for the second. "
 
 "Then why did they fly?"
 
 "Quite so. "I got a message from the head office that a gent at this address 
had
 been inquiring for No. "I shall
 probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. "
 
 Our cab was awaiting us outside, and our programme was evidently
 prearranged, for the driver started off at once at a rapid pace. "There has 
been many a hammer murder and no trace on the hammer. "I think that if you knew 
all that I had in this box
 you would ask me to pull some out instead of putting others in. Now, Watson, 
there is cocoa ready in
 the next room. Holmes, with your permission, I will show you round the house. "
 
 "Perhaps he is waiting for a better price. There
 was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders
 at any moment. "
 
 "Stoutly spoken, master alderman! But how have you fared hitherto?"
 
 "As a lamb fares in a land of wolves. "
 
 "About twelve o'clock last night," said the Standard, "Mr. "Yes, sir, I have 
already read the account in the evening papers. "It may seem very foolish in
 your eyes," I added, "but really I don't know how you deduced it. He has died 
within ten seconds of being bitten. John, cooped up in the
 valley, and absorbed in his work, had had little chance of learning
 the news of the outside world during the last twelve years. All this
 Jefferson Hope was able to tell him, and in a style which interested
 Lucy as well as her father. "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I 
met him in
 Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his
 foot. I was at my wit's end where to get
 the money, but a sudden idea came to me. "
 
 "And how have you succeeded?"
 
 "Well. What copy it would have made for the
 Gazette!  Had ever a journalist such an opening and so little chance of
 using it--the scoop of scoops, and no one to appreciate it?  And then,
 suddenly, the old instinct of recording came over me. He thrust a hollow reed 
into it and cried out with
 delight like a schoolboy then he was able, on touching it with a
 lighted match, to cause a sharp explosion and a blue flame at the far
 end of the tube. "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said
 he. On the very day
 that we fought over the little hussy, she went off with Evan ap Price,
 a long-legged Welsh dagsman. On being asked where this
 old shipmate lived, he was unable to give any satisfactory reply. As I 
approached the spot I was aware of voices, some remark in the deep
 tones of a man, answered by a little ripple of feminine laughter. "You have 
implicit faith in Holmes?" he asked. Here you are, and here you will stay until 
I will otherwise. But I'll humour you. "
 
 
 About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished,
 and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. He said that he was
 a detective, and he offered me two guineas if I would do exactly what he
 wanted all day and ask no questions. He took his chance, intending, no doubt, 
to make
 some excuse if he met anyone. "
 
 "Jim was shot last month when they tried to kill Chester Wilcox of
 Marley Creek," McMurdo's neighbour informed him. "Do not go asleep; your very 
life may depend upon it. "Exactly. We are in Camden House, which stands 
opposite to our own old
 quarters. This would
 explain it. Full of the one idea, I set myself to find out
 what had become of the Secretary. I don't know how long we sat in amazed 
silence. Soames he went for you. I flopped down into that chair, and nothing 
would budge me until
 Mr. "Who--who's this?" he stammered. "It is Selden, the man who escaped from 
Princetown. I beg your pardon, sir, for I haven't spoke as much as
 this for many a long year, but to-day my feelings seem to 'ave got the
 better of me. So we just had to leave that detail to take care of itself. "
 
 "Be he who he might, he was a very hardy gentleman. "The first of them
 was that they threw me out. "The symptoms are for some reason developing more 
rapidly upon the sea
 level. "Dost know who I am?"
 
 "No, sir, I do not. "I would have you to know,
 clerk, that I am a free English burgher, and that I dare say my mind to
 our father the Pope himself, let alone such a lacquey's lacquey as you!"
 
 "Base-born and foul-mouthed knave!" cried the sompnour. "I hear of Sherlock 
everywhere since you
 became his chronicler. Then I walked
 across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of
 the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded
 across it. "Any steps?" he asked. "
 
 Alleyne thought of what he had read of demoniac possession--the
 jumpings, the twitchings, the wild talk. "
 
 His revolver cracked, and I saw the blood spurt from the front of
 Woodley's waistcoat. "I am a practical man, Mr. "
 
 "Then there is a lake in the center. Staunton in London?"
 
 "Certainly not. "
 
 "Dear me, dear me--the postoffice again!" Holmes sighed, wearily. "Lord, how 
some of that Somaliland-Uganda crowd would turn
 a beautiful pea-green if they saw it!  I don't know what you chaps
 think, but it strikes me that we are on mighty thin ice all this time. "
 
 I had the same feeling of mystery and danger around us. "Now, I'll show you 
the explanation. "
 
 
 III. Mortimer, with his companion, had long vanished in
 front of us. "
 
 "Indeed! And anyone else?"
 
 "There were many insignificant sums to individuals, and a large number
 of public charities. "Yes, but I have a peculiar taste in these matters. "For 
years I have loved
 her. On the third day, however, I had ample evidence that
 her solemn promise was not enough to hold her back from this secret
 influence which drew her away from her husband and her duty. On the other, the 
plans of the Bruce-Partington
 submarine are presumably already on the Continent. Astonished at the sight, I 
leaned forward to pick it off, when, to my
 horror, it burst between my finger and thumb, squirting blood in every
 direction. My cry of disgust had brought the two professors to my side. I 
remember that the monstrous and
 grotesque idea crossed my mind--the illusion may have been heightened by
 the heavy stuffiness of the air which we were breathing--that we were in
 four front seats of the stalls at the last act of the drama of the world. "
 
 "Let me say, Mr. The Foreign Minister alone I
 could have withstood, but when the Premier also deigned to visit my
 humble roof--!  The fact is, Watson, that this gentleman upon the sofa
 was a bit too good for our people. Just notice this point, Mr. A short walk 
along the winding drive with such sward and oaks
 around it as one only sees in rural England, then a sudden turn, and the
 long, low Jacobean house of dingy, liver-coloured brick lay before
 us, with an old-fashioned garden of cut yews on each side of it. CHAPTER XIV. 
HOW SAMKIN AYLWARD WAGERED HIS FEATHER-BED. Black was the mouth of Twynham 
Castle, though a pair of torches burning
 at the further end of the gateway cast a red glare over the outer
 bailey, and sent a dim, ruddy flicker through the rough-hewn arch,
 rising and falling with fitful brightness. With rows of
 flaring torches to light it up, and the colour and rude hilarity of
 an old-time banquet, it might have softened; but now, when two
 black-clothed gentlemen sat in the little circle of light thrown by a
 shaded lamp, one's voice became hushed and one's spirit subdued. Any night, 
for example, our neighbours the
 Stapletons might be attacked by him, and it may have been the thought of
 this which made Sir Henry so keen upon the adventure. But there is nothing to 
eat unless he were to catch and
 slaughter one of the moor sheep. '
 
 
 "The same afternoon saw us both at Hurlstone. "'We have not got our name up 
yet, for we only secured these temporary
 premises last week. On our way we had to pass through Hudson Street, which is
 a very quiet thoroughfare. The head had been beaten in by repeated
 blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. How could I settle the
 point forever? Obviously the first thing to do was to see the Grimpen
 postmaster and find whether the test telegram had really been placed in
 Barrymore's own hands. I knew that none had fallen since
 the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost
 to preserve impressions. It
 could only have been the murderer, since neither the gardener nor anyone
 else had been there that morning, and the rain had only begun during the
 night. But dark or fair, she is my own dear little girlie,
 and her mother's pet. "
 
 All along the woodland track there did indeed run a scattered straggling
 trail of blood-marks, sometimes in single drops, and in other places in
 broad, ruddy gouts, smudged over the dead leaves or crimsoning the white
 flint stones. "He of the
 fur mantle has a wise and reverent face. First he must be a
 monk forsooth, and all because a wench was wise enough to turn her back
 on him. Then there came a gray friar, or minorite, with a good paunch
 upon him, walking slowly and looking about him with the air of a man who
 was at peace with himself and with all men. As a Pressman, I
 felt sure from what I had been told that I could never hope to get into
 touch with this cantankerous Professor. "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, 
rising from his armchair
 and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he
 could so readily assume. In one hour and five minutes
 I meet him at Waterloo Station. Once, I remember, as we passed over the Gemmi, 
and walked along
 the border of the melancholy Daubensee, a large rock which had been
 dislodged from the ridge upon our right clattered down and roared into
 the lake behind us. Then all was
 blank, until he woke to find kindly blue English eyes peering down upon
 him and to hear the blessed sound of his country's speech. "I say, Watson," he 
whispered, "would
 you be afraid to sleep in the same room with a lunatic, a man with
 softening of the brain, an idiot whose mind has lost its grip?"
 
 "Not in the least," I answered in astonishment. You must keep on until you do. 
"
 
 "Well, I have been obliged to reconsider it. "Do
 you know," said he, "that I begin to believe that I am the unconscious
 centre of some monstrous conspiracy, and that my life is aimed at as
 well as my honor?"
 
 "Ah!" cried Holmes. Joseph will come, too. Joseph Stangerson," said Lestrade 
gravely, "was
 murdered at Halliday's Private Hotel about six o'clock this morning. The 
details of the case will
 probably be never known now, though we are informed upon good authority
 that the crime was the result of an old standing and romantic feud, in
 which love and Mormonism bore a part. "
 
 "You have found a way up?"
 
 "I venture to think so. "
 
 "Mind it is, for it's the last thing of mine that I'll lose in this den
 of thieves. "
 
 "Then there is Chandos. "
 
 "That is easily got. Sooth to say, the stout heart of Sir Nigel, which cared 
little for
 the wrath of her lion-like spouse, was somewhat shaken by the calm, cold
 face of this stately dame, for twenty years of camp-life had left him
 more at ease in the lists than in a lady's boudoir. He bethought him,
 too, as he looked at her set lips and deep-set questioning eyes, that he
 had heard strange tales of this same Lady Tiphaine du Guesclin. You will 
soften him, Watson. You would think that it must be forever desert. "
 
 "Yes; she got a duplicate after the fire. "It were better for you, John 
Ferrier," he thundered,
 "that you and she were now lying blanched skeletons upon the Sierra
 Blanco, than that you should put your weak wills against the orders of
 the Holy Four!"
 
 With a threatening gesture of his hand, he turned from the door, and
 Ferrier heard his heavy step scrunching along the shingly path. It may be that 
others have come into the
 castle. And yet there were indications that even human life itself was not far
 from us in those mysterious recesses. "
 
 "Why would no one stay?" I asked. "A bicycle, certainly, but not THE bicycle," 
said he. Hungerton, her father, really was the most tactless person upon
 earth,--a fluffy, feathery, untidy cockatoo of a man, perfectly
 good-natured, but absolutely centered upon his own silly self. If
 anything could have driven me from Gladys, it would have been the
 thought of such a father-in-law. They have perished,
 and by my hand. You could
 not have made any slip in coming?"
 
 "I did exactly what you advised. "
 
 "Whom would you recommend, then?"
 
 Holmes laid his hand upon my arm. "If ever geologists should by any chance 
live upon earth again they will
 have some strange theories of the existence of man in carboniferous
 strata. "
 
 "And so say I," cried Felton, heartily. "
 
 "Yet I would fain have your rede and counsel, Sir Simon. Now, then: 'Found at
 the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. No, sir, such
 a man will look after himself and will look after his chums. There is no 
prospect
 of danger, or I should not dream of stirring out without you. The twitter of 
birds, the buzz of insects, the far-off echo
 of voices, the lowing of cattle, the distant barking of dogs, roar of
 trains, and rattle of carts--all these form one low, unremitting note,
 striking unheeded upon the ear. It was indeed a singular scene which met their 
eyes. "
 
 "I have given up looking for either the one or the other," said Morris. By the 
way, I've got a
 small job for you, if you'll help me. "
 
 "But, Aylward, think of the men whom I saw yesternight," said Alleyne. "You 
are developing a certain
 unexpected vein of pawky humour, Watson, against which I must learn to
 guard myself. "You see it?"
 
 But I saw nothing. "I have never been a very rich man, Mr. "And you might add 
of the attempted murder of one Sherlock Holmes,"
 remarked my friend with a chuckle. "How
 long is it since there has been peace in my hapless country? Where are
 the steadings, and orchards, and vineyards, which made France fair?
 Where are the cities which made her great? From Providence to Burgundy
 we are beset by every prowling hireling in Christendom, who rend and
 tear the country which you have left too weak to guard her own marches. 
"That's the
 worst blow yet. As we drove up to the porticoed front door, I observed in 
front of it,
 beside the tennis lawn, the black tool-house and the pedestalled sundial
 with which we had such strange associations. Paul's. He fancied his own 
literary touch. These letters would have saved
 him. "
 
 "You are over-grave to-day, John," the prince answered. "Wait a bit, Gregson," 
said Sherlock Holmes. "You go too fast. "
 
 "Where is he, then? Where shall we know him?"
 
 "Eminent Bodymaster," said McMurdo, earnestly, "I would put it to you
 that this is too vital a thing for us to discuss in open lodge. "You may find 
the scath yourself, my lusty friend, if you raise
 your great cudgel to me. "What can you hope for?
 I'm fifteen stone, as hard as nails, and play center three-quarter
 every Saturday for the London Irish. Surely your medical experience would tell 
you, Watson, that
 weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional
 strength in the others. "
 
 "Well, that is part of the risk. "Well, I first had the hammer examined. It 
seemed altogether past
 belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay
 such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the
 'Encyclopaedia Britannica. We should soon come upon rapids, he
 explained, which would make its further use impossible. She is a woman
 of a severe and forbidding aspect, prim and demure in her bearing, very
 impassive in her nature, and never known within our experience to show
 signs of any emotion. I have
 not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of
 complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Foremost of all, of 
course, were the sight of the fiery caves and the
 certainty that some troglodytic race inhabited them. But besides that
 I could speak from experience of the central lake. The moon shone clear above
 

them, and they rode swiftly abreast, taking that course
 

which the maid must needs have taken if she were to reach
 

her own home. The clerk's mind was on his brother, on his future--above
 all on this strange, fierce, melting, beautiful woman who had broken
 so suddenly into his life, and as suddenly passed out of it again. She was 
there in an instant, and I caught a
 glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. I have no complaint to make. "
 
 "Yet they have souls, fair lady, they have souls!" murmured the
 chaplain, a white-haired man with a weary, patient face. It looked as if
 the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate
 very prompt and energetic measures on my part. Saturday was always the lodge 
night,
 and McMurdo was leaving his house to attend it when Morris, the weaker
 brother of the order, came to see him. "
 
 
 
 
 Chapter 3--Lodge 341, Vermissa
 
 
 
 On the day following the evening which had contained so many exciting
 events, McMurdo moved his lodgings from old Jacob Shafter's and took up
 his quarters at the Widow MacNamara's on the extreme outskirts of the
 town. The narrow passage led us
 into a quadrangle paved with flags and lined by sordid dwellings. I remember 
that during our short visit we found the vicar
 garrulous, but his lodger strangely reticent, a sad-faced,
 introspective man, sitting with averted eyes, brooding apparently upon
 his own affairs. Our course now ran down Nine Elms until we came to Broderick 
and
 Nelson's large timber-yard, just past the White Eagle tavern. "We are 
devil-ridden, Mr. That means that while they are, as we have seen, very
 anxious to watch him, they are equally anxious that he should not see
 them. "
 
 "Any questions, Mr. "You pass too lightly over the matter. "There was nothin' 
else to be done. Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is
 really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office,
 and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom,
 and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers
 and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. Day by day she grew 
queerer and
 more irritable, and we had ceaseless rows about nothing. I was fairly
 puzzled by it all. Yet, for all my care, things
 were not merry in the house, and I thought it well to come away. Even after I 
became
 suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind
 old clergyman. However, once we
 had got out of our narrow haven of refuge into the wider atmosphere of
 everyday life, our normal energy came gradually back to us once more. I want 
to find the whereabouts of a steam
 launch called the Aurora, owner Mordecai Smith, black with two red
 streaks, funnel black with a white band. But how can one serve people who are 
so foolish and so
 ungrateful?"
 
 Whilst the Seneschal of Villefranche had been detailing the evil doings
 of his tenants, Alleyne had been unable to take his eyes from the face
 of Lady Tiphaine. I have been warm under a coverlet all night, and you cold
 in your chairs. "By Jove!" he cried. What is
 this golden banner which waves upon the left?"
 
 "It is the ensign of the Knights of Calatrava," answered Felton. I am afraid
 he won't make much of [15] Why, by Jove, here's the very man himself!"
 
 It was indeed Lestrade, who had ascended the stairs while we were
 talking, and who now entered the room. You must divide it
 out among yourselves, and do both banks thoroughly. "
 
 "You have followed me wonderfully!" I exclaimed. Melas. He earns his living
 partly as interpreter in the law courts and partly by acting as guide to
 any wealthy Orientals who may visit the Northumberland Avenue hotels. It was 
all that I could do to persuade him to
 let me find out Miss Morstan's address and send her a detached pearl at
 fixed intervals, so that at least she might never feel destitute. Every time 
that a knock came to the door, or a
 sharp step passed in the street, I imagined that it was either Holmes
 returning or an answer to his advertisement. By degrees Mr. Yet,
 ere the last string had twanged, he would be down on his four bones
 among the stricken, and have them all houseled and shriven, as quick as
 shelling peas. I have read Ockham, Bradwardine,
 and other of the schoolmen, together with the learned Duns Scotus and
 the book of the holy Aquinas. "
 
 "Art so set on plunder then? Is the purse so light that there is not
 enough for a rouse? I have a bag at my belt, camarade, and you have but
 to put your fist into it for what you want. But, still, whatever your motive, 
I am glad that you went down that
 mine. My strength had been rather tried of late. He met
 me and married me there. I
 looked back before I reached Farnham, but the man was gone, so I thought
 no more about it. I
 have enclosed with this a rough chart of our journey, which may have
 the effect of making the account rather easier to understand. You'd have done 
the same, if
 you have any manhood in you, if you had been in my place. "That girl that I 
spoke of was to have married me twenty years ago. Alack and alas that ever I 
should
 have been fool enough to trust him! Now, young man, what manner of a
 bird would you suppose a pied merlin to be--that being the proper sign
 of my hostel?"
 
 "Why," said Alleyne, "a merlin is a bird of the same form as an eagle or
 a falcon. I can well remember that learned brother Bartholomew, who is
 deep in all the secrets of nature, pointed one out to me as we walked
 together near Vinney Ridge. At first, of
 course, he denied everything. He was
 eager that I should break the entail, and he was of opinion that it lay
 in my power to do so. Yet, in spite of his shabby and even absurd
 appearance, his voice had a sharp crackle, and his manner a quick
 intensity which commanded attention. Yet the king hath given me a living here
 in the southlands, and please God these two lads of mine will pay off
 a debt that hath been owing over long. It is certain that there is a point 
where an ascent is
 possible. The cries of the people
 in the galleries, who were alarmed at the near approach of those
 glowing eyes and that murderous beak, excited the creature to a frenzy. She 
was preparing to go to bed when the loud ringing
 of the bell had attracted her attention. She came to
 Mr. Stapleton himself seems to have been
 capable of jealousy, and when he saw the baronet paying court to the
 lady, even though it was part of his own plan, still he could not help
 interrupting with a passionate outburst which revealed the fiery soul
 which his self-contained manner so cleverly concealed. I gave a trifle myself. 
It is a
 pure matter of form. But all I heard
 pointed in the one direction. Sit down on this
 bench, Watson, until a train for Chiselhurst arrives, and allow me to
 lay the evidence before you, imploring you in the first instance to
 dismiss from your mind the idea that anything which the maid or her
 mistress may have said must necessarily be true. The lady's charming
 personality must not be permitted to warp our judgment. Alleyne
 watched him until he was small in the distance, and then, wiping the
 tears from his eyes, he set off briskly once more upon his journey. The youth 
had now journeyed considerably beyond the furthest domains of
 the Abbey. Hilton Cubitt's room, and he reported that her injuries were
 serious, but not necessarily fatal. She shot him and then herself--so the
 servants say. "
 
 "I daresay you are right. Alleyne had turned to follow them, when he felt a 
touch upon
 his shoulder, and found a young page by his side. "There is no need for such 
anger," he said mildly. "I cannot expect to find it developed in
 all of you to the same point which it has reached in me, for I suppose
 that the strength of our different mental processes bears some proportion
 to each other. It has been a long evening, and I don't
 think my nerve is as good as it was. Athelney Jones, of Scotland Yard, with 
all his
 well-known energy and sagacity. His
 trained and experienced faculties were at once directed towards the
 detection of the criminals, with the gratifying result that the
 brother, Thaddeus Sholto, has already been arrested, together with the
 housekeeper, Mrs. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal
 lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated
 upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell
 unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick,
 impatient snarl in reply. "The baronet himself told him about the family 
hound, and so prepared
 the way for his own death. "
 
 "That is true," said I. Your words prove that you have these, and
 all the rest is but the work of use and time. "
 
 "If my hand is not hard, it is ready. "The fact is
 that I knew this fellow Milverton, that I considered him one of the most
 dangerous men in London, and that I think there are certain crimes
 which the law cannot touch, and which therefore, to some extent, justify
 private revenge. "What think you of our ways, Brother?"
 
 McMurdo's criminal soul seemed to have already absorbed the spirit of
 the vile association of which he was now a member. "Drums," said Lord John, 
carelessly; "war drums. I have heard them
 before. I staggered to the balustrades of the stair. "
 
 "What do you mean, then?"
 
 "I mean that I have earned the reward. "
 
 "I could only account for it so. "
 
 Alleyne followed the messenger to the east end of the courtyard, where a
 broad flight of steps led up to the doorway of the main hall, the outer
 wall of which is washed by the waters of the Avon. Know then that though there 
may be peace between our own provinces and
 the French, yet within the marches of France there is always war, for
 the country is much divided against itself, and is furthermore harried
 by bands of flayers, skinners, Brabacons, tardvenus, and the rest of
 them. For every statue, cut gem, shrine, carven screen,
 or what else might please the eye of a learned clerk, there are a good
 hundred to our one. "
 
 "Your Company has been, then, to bow knee before our holy father, the
 Pope Urban, the prop and centre of Christendom?" asked Alleyne, much
 interested. Waldron looked with amazement along the line of professors upon the
 platform until his eyes fell upon the figure of Challenger, who leaned
 back in his chair with closed eyes and an amused expression, as if he
 were smiling in his sleep. There are points
 in it with which I disagree, and it has been my duty to indicate them
 as they arose, but, none the less, Mr. And it
 ended by my discovering traces, but very different ones from those which
 I had expected. " She
 pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob
 heavily into it. Holmes was very serious in
 his manner, myself curious, and the detectives obviously critical and
 annoyed. Armstrong at the door. "
 
 "We can follow him to-morrow. "It would, perchance, be best that the novices 
be not admitted,"
 suggested the master. It was done by a thick
 pen, and these are fine. Better to sleep here at this inn, and then travel
 on to Minstead in the morning. If his brother would take him in, well
 and good. So perfect was the organisation of the
 society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a
 case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with
 impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the
 perpetrators. Lower down were six reapers all
 in a litter, their limbs crossing, their dead, unwinking eyes gazing
 upwards at the glare of heaven. The blue reeks of smoke from the cottages gave 
the whole
 widespread landscape an air of settled order and homely comfort. "Enough of 
this," said my friend, coldly. "Drop that pistol! Watson,
 pick it up! Hold it to his head. Thank you. I have always had the key on my 
watch-chain. Do not think that I intrude one story before another is finished. "
 
 "What sort of fool's talk is this? Do you back out?"
 
 "Easy, Councillor, easy! What have I ever said or done that you should
 think I would be after standing back from an order of the Bodymaster of
 my own lodge? If it's right or if it's wrong, it's for you to decide. "
 
 "My dear Holmes, what do you mean?"
 
 "I think that you know me well enough, Watson, to understand that I am
 by no means a nervous man. "
 
 "Well, then," said Holmes, with a mischievous twinkle, "I suppose that
 you have no objection to helping me?"
 
 Phelps raised the cover, and as he did so he uttered a scream, and sat
 there staring with a face as white as the plate upon which he looked. There
 will be no difficulties for you or your baggage. When we have
 found who he is and who his associates are, we should have a good start
 in learning what he was doing in Pitt Street last night, and who it was
 who met him and killed him on the doorstep of Mr. But we hold
 several threads in our hands, and the odds are that one or other of them
 guides us to the truth. "
 
 "I am ever her knight and slave. "I can see him plainly. I confess that I have 
seldom known a case which at
 first sight presented a more singular problem. Only a very important issue
 could call me from London at present. At that moment there arrived
 Dr. On reaching
 the base of the bluff they halted, and held a short council among
 themselves. They had him alone at their
 mercy every other night in the week. "
 
 "My Mary? Impossible!"
 
 "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. "With two
 such men as yourself and Lestrade upon the ground, there will not be
 much for a third party to find out," he said. I will turn the facts
 over in my mind, Mr. With bow, a smile, and a twinkle, Milverton
 was out of the room, and a few moments after we heard the slam of the
 carriage door and the rattle of the wheels as he drove away. In the dim light 
of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an
 old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the
 corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him,
 silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set
 aquiline features. This stone is not yet twenty years old. Maple White passed
 Rosario four years ago, or two years before I saw his dead body. He
 was not alone at the time, but there was a friend, an American named
 James Colver, who remained in the boat and did not meet this
 ecclesiastic. Then, at his
 order, the whole tribe lay down upon the ground before us in homage. "I 
thought so," said he, "the revolver had an ejector, and here is the
 third cartridge. I was at my wit's end where to get
 the money, but a sudden idea came to me. Perhaps it was
 thoughtless of me to say so. "
 
 He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at
 the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. I
 think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our
 web to weave, while theirs is already woven. If there were a hidden meaning
 in it, I was confident that I could pluck it forth. Come along, Watson. "Ah, 
Wilson, I see you have not forgotten the little case in which I had
 the good fortune to help you?"
 
 "No, sir, indeed I have not. It is a toss of the head and a droop of
 the eyes if I say one word of what is in my mind. I must,
 however, as a matter of duty, send an inspector with you, since you
 have so valuable a charge. Melas, that if at any time
 to-night you attempt to raise an alarm or do anything which is against
 my interests, you will find it a very serious thing. "'Yes. '
 
 "'Well done, well done! No ill-will, Mr. Holmes, and
 my mind is made up that I will accept it. Tell me all,
 Mr. The rest will to Dax when the prince starts, which will be
 before the feast of the Epiphany. It was a quarter-past seven
 when we left Pall Mall, and my watch showed me that it was ten minutes
 to nine when we at last came to a standstill. James' Street and the Strand. We 
had not long to wait for our enemy. Finally, we have the
 curious fact that the intruder carried away the key with him when he
 left. But they
 determined to get rid forever of Garcia. It was absolutely certain, therefore, 
in
 spite of her denial, that she must know something of the matter. And yet there 
were indications that even human life itself was not far
 from us in those mysterious recesses. "
 
 "I am armed. If any visitor were to call asking for
 Mrs. For two days we made our way up a good-sized river some hundreds of
 yards broad, and dark in color, but transparent, so that one could
 usually see the bottom. It lay scattered, in
 splintered shards, upon the grass. And it is this letter--this letter which 
may well
 mean the expenditure of a thousand millions and the lives of a hundred
 thousand men--which has become lost in this unaccountable fashion. When a 
woman has been seriously
 wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom
 is a broken bell wire. "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor 
in the
 matter. I can press it back, and here is the roof itself, sloping at a gentle
 angle. His studies are
 very desultory and eccentric, but he has amassed a lot of out-of-the way
 knowledge which would astonish his professors. "It is Sir William de 
Pakington, the prince's own herald and scrivener,"
 whispered Sir Nigel, as they pulled up amid the line of knights who
 waited admission. On the other hand, a man should be at his
 very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not
 wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I was to see
 that the doors were open and the signal of a green or white light in a
 window which faced the drive was to give notice if all was safe or if
 the attempt had better be postponed. "
 
 "Colour of his eyes?"
 
 "No, I can't say that. "
 
 "Children, my dear boy, children. It is very possible if I had known about 
this notebook
 it might have led away my thoughts, as it did yours. "How much do you know?" 
he asked at last, without raising his head. "That's the
 worst blow yet. "Jack McGinty is the boss
 there. "
 
 "What sort of a man is he?" McMurdo asked. "Will that not nip life in the bud?"
 
 "The poison may be a mere stratum or layer in the ether--a mephitic Gulf
 Stream across that mighty ocean in which we float. Tarp Henry looked 
thoughtful. "  At the same time I
 was aware that a tall, thin man, with dark gingery hair, a few seats in
 front of me, was also upon his feet. And you saw no more of him?"
 
 "Not after he went into the station. Frankland, who was standing, 
gray-whiskered and red-faced,
 outside the gate of his garden, which opened on to the highroad along
 which I travelled. Stapleton, the naturalist, there are no other men of
 education within many miles. Sir Charles was a retiring man, but the
 chance of his illness brought us together, and a community of interests
 in science kept us so. The
 four rode alone, for the archers had passed a curve in the road, though
 Alleyne could still hear the heavy clump, clump of their marching, or
 catch a glimpse of the sparkle of steel through the tangle of leafless
 branches. On landing at
 Bombay, I learned that my corps had advanced through the passes, and
 was already deep in the enemy's country. I was instantly aroused, and,
 with the two footmen, started off at once in search of the missing girl. 
Together they could protect each other,
 but singly they were at my mercy. It appeared to have been fitted up as a 
chemical laboratory. The
 crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between
 layers of lead foil. But how is it with you, master shipman?"
 
 "Ill enough, my fair lord. "
 
 "I wanted to hire his steam launch. His orders were to stay in the house. "So, 
Watson," said he, suddenly, "you do not propose to invest in South
 African securities?"
 
 I gave a start of astonishment. Accustomed as I was to Holmes's curious
 faculties, this sudden intrusion into my most intimate thoughts was
 utterly inexplicable. "How on earth do you know that?" I asked. "I have had so 
much
 to think of, with these wicked villains so close upon us, that it had
 quite gone out of my head. However, as I cast my mind back over the events of 
the morning, and as I
 reconsider the fatuous conduct of my companions, I find it easy to
 believe that some poison of an exciting kind was responsible for their
 symptoms. Well, we had a horrid business afterwards. With a
 sudden crash the door flew open, and three frowning, intent faces glared
 in at them from under the peaks of police caps. There was no lounger who could 
tell us who
 had passed. Yet they are not averse to comfortable chairs and the latest
 periodicals. Use it, Bertrand, while you may. "
 
 "I will, my sweet. Lestrade laughed loudly. The area door of Oberstein's house 
had been left open
 the night before, and it was necessary for me, as Mycroft Holmes
 absolutely and indignantly declined to climb the railings, to pass in
 and open the hall door. Cut, parry, and thrust followed
 so swiftly upon each other that the eye could not follow them, until at
 last coming thigh to thigh, they cast their arms around each other
 and rolled off their saddles to the ground. The heavier Spaniard threw
 himself upon his enemy, and pinning him down beneath him raised his
 sword to slay him, while a shout of triumph rose from the ranks of his
 countrymen. But I
 allow that I can hold him till you come. Twice he opened his mouth and twice 
he peered again,
 as though to assure himself that his eyes had not played him a trick. There 
she still sat when Alleyne reached the
 crossing. You will see it often in humans. It's all very well for
 you to laugh, Mr. That would be about his time for hanging himself. Then,
 horrified by what he had done, he fled out of the hut, dropping the
 notebook which he had brought with him in order to question Peter Carey
 about these different securities. Once our friends
 stopped and stared into a shop window, upon which Holmes did the
 same. In vain were sword-sheaths, apple-branches and belts linked
 together thrown out to him by his companions. "
 
 "By St. "And now, fair sir, I must
 hasten back to see how my rogues have fared with the brawn. Soames, I wish you
 good-night. "
 
 Three yellow squares of light shone above us in the gathering gloom. "Nay, we 
should drift upon the rocks. Chandos hath
 persuaded the prince to leave many behind, and indeed I think that he is
 right, for there is little food and less water in these parts for which
 we are bound. A man without his meat or a horse without his fodder is
 like a wet bow-string, fit for little. Oh, how simple it would all
 have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo
 and wallowed all over it. Holmes, if you could only, only save his honour!  It 
was so much to
 him. "The fact is, your Grace," said he, "that my colleague, Dr. Enoch
 Drebber and of Mr. Joseph Stangerson. There's a place, however,
 on the wooden fence which skirts the road which shows signs, they tell
 me, as if some one had got over, and had snapped the top of the rail in
 doing so. "
 
 "Then we shall take it. "
 
 "If it is not too much trouble. The light was just fading. "
 
 "There have," said I, "been numerous petty thefts. "What color! What
 outlines! See to this martyrdom of the holy Stephen, Ford. "
 
 "Precisely. "
 
 "Ah, then, we'll step over afterwards," said the Colonel, coolly
 settling down to his breakfast again. She was plainly but neatly dressed, with 
a bright, quick face,
 freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a
 woman who has had her own way to make in the world. "
 
 Alleyne, still standing in the stream, glanced down at the graceful
 pink-and-white figure, the curve of raven-black hair, and the proud,
 sensitive face which looked up frankly and confidingly at his own. "
 
 "Then what on earth can he be doing? There is something which I don't
 understand in this manner. And now I will make the
 thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but
 will not take me long to tell. One other neighbour I have met since I wrote 
last. "You damned murderers!" he said. Let me see it. But I am prepared to give 
you a few
 indications which will be of interest. He has been there
 for ten days, and neither Mr. Indeed, they are children both--the one wizened 
and
 cantankerous, the other formidable and overbearing, yet each with a
 brain which has put him in the front rank of his scientific age. Brain, 
character, soul--only as one sees more of life does one
 understand how distinct is each. The very next day we did actually make our 
start upon this remarkable
 expedition. "We can't do these things in the force, Mr. "We have
 touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in
 Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. "
 
 "Very likely not. "
 
 "The highest of which we have cognizance. "I have led a retired life,
 and have no friends whom I could appeal to. "
 
 The young lady resumed her seat with an air of displeasure. "It will be time
 to look out for squalls when we do. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there 
and make yourself
 absolutely at home. "I recognized in an instant that the thief must have come 
up the stairs
 from the side door. But I trust, Sir Nigel, that you will
 also partake of none-meat with me?"
 
 "I have overmuch to do," Sir Nigel answered, "for we must be aboard,
 horse and man, as early as we may. I had understood that every paper in
 the United States was writing about it. It was just after eleven, and the big 
room was
 fairly full, though the rush had not yet set in. At last, as midnight 
approached and
 the street gradually cleared, he paced up and down the room in
 uncontrollable agitation. There were steps in the passage. The machine
 goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working
 of it, and it has lost a little of its force. But you have yourself had some 
experience of my
 methods of work in the Jefferson Hope case. Mortimer. "Shall I speak or you?" 
he asked of the vicar. "Well, as you seem to have made the discovery, whatever 
it may be, and
 the vicar to have had it second-hand, perhaps you had better do the
 speaking," said Holmes. "What are your questions?"
 
 "Did you correspond with Sir Charles?"
 
 "I certainly wrote to him once or twice to acknowledge his delicacy and
 his generosity. "I'd like a shillin'," said he. "
 
 "So you shall," said Challenger. She's my wife. Who are you, though?" he 
continued, glancing with curiosity at
 his stalwart, sunburned rescuers; "there seems to be a powerful lot of
 ye. For my part I walked ten miles, got a train at Tunbridge Wells, and so
 reached London, and no one the wiser. Once again we were able to
 visit our camp and get at our stores. "
 
 She looked back at us from the door, and I had a last impression of that
 beautiful haunted face, the startled eyes, and the drawn mouth. "
 
 "And who was the first?" I asked. "Aye, truly would it, my fair son. "Here is 
to old Samkin Aylward!" shouted several at the further end of
 the room, waving their blackjacks in the air. "This is the proper way to raise 
children. Watson, before whom you can speak as
 freely as before myself. I'll be able to tell you more clearly then how this
 thing strikes me. In the meantime
 spare no pains, Mr. Knowing my methods as
 you do, you were, of course, conscious of the somewhat clumsy water-pot
 expedient by which I obtained a clearer impress of his foot than might
 otherwise have been possible. A year ago Godfrey Staunton lodged in London for 
a time and became
 passionately attached to his landlady's daughter, whom he married. "Excuse me, 
sir," said he, "but am I addressing Dr. "Watson
 won't allow that I know anything of art but that is mere jealousy
 because our views upon the subject differ. "Some touch of the artist wells up 
within me, and calls
 insistently for a well-staged performance. Blessington came down to me in, as 
it seemed to me,
 a state of considerable agitation. "Well, I never thought that I should see 
anything more of the Russian
 and his son, so you can imagine my amazement when, at the very same hour
 this evening, they both came marching into my consulting-room, just as
 they had done before. Holmes, have you solved this mystery yet?" He shoved the
 large tin of cigarettes which stood on a table beside him towards my
 companion. The Problem
 
 
 
 I confess at these words a shudder passed through me. Scanlan and McMurdo 
climbed a heap
 of slag from which the whole scene lay before them. In the early hours of the
 morning a beautiful woman and a much muffled man boarded a special train
 which had been sent by the railroad company, and made a swift, unbroken
 journey out of the land of danger. McArdle, I hope very soon to
 shake you by the hand. The good old Scotchman shook
 his head, scratched his dwindling fringe of ruddy fluff, and finally put
 his reluctance into words. "It was rather a queer position that we found 
ourselves in then. "I have brought off a double event. "I give you my word that 
I'll fire if you
 come any nearer. "
 
 "You are no very shrewd reasoner, fellow," quoth the knight; "for if
 it be within the law for you to threaten him with your club, then it is
 also lawful for me to threaten you with my sword. "
 
 "Precisely. I should much prefer to hear now. Let me go, Aylward, for
 my place is by his side. " That was enough to decide me. "
 
 "Might I ask from whom?"
 
 A shadow passed over the gaunt face of the explorer. "It's a bonny thing," 
said he. Holmes. I could tell from his expression that he was on a hot scent, 
and yet
 I could not in the least imagine in what direction his inferences were
 leading him. "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. So far 
as I can see,
 I have no choice. If ever human features bespoke vice of the most
 malignant type, they were certainly those of Enoch J. Yet you could ever win 
me over to your side with
 that soft voice of yours. "
 
 "As to the body," remarked Challenger, "we do not mourn over the parings
 of our nails nor the cut locks of our hair, though they were once part of
 ourselves. "But we had no trouble of any kind. My colors have not passed. The 
launch was not at any
 landing-stage or wharf, nor had it returned. On the other hand, all the 
exposed provisions--and I
 remembered that there were a considerable quantity of them--were gone. "Well 
played, sweet poppet!" cried the younger. Hola! mon
 ange, bring wine and ale. I take only the money in a linen bag,
 and the box of rose colored sugar which is a gift from my captain to the
 Lady Loring. E. S. A. There is no cover at all. "
 
 "Then, by St. With these two implements he trotted noiselessly
 about the room, sometimes stopping, occasionally kneeling, and once
 lying flat upon his face. I
 knew that the opening of safes was a particular hobby with him, and I
 understood the joy which it gave him to be confronted with this green
 and gold monster, the dragon which held in its maw the reputations of
 many fair ladies. That was the impression that I had, and I moved
 quickly forwards to get a nearer view of the person who was watching
 me. "
 
 At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for
 Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove
 for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. "You
 are the surer, Watkin," said Aylward, standing by them with shaft upon
 string. "Hast journeyed far, I wot. "Why shrink from us,
 then, as though we were the spawn of the Evil One?"
 
 "Why shrink, my honey-bird? Why so afeard, my sweet cinnamon?" exclaimed
 the other, a loose-jointed lanky youth with a dancing, roguish eye. "You have 
everything a man could have,--youth, health, strength,
 education, energy. I had no idea that such individuals did
 exist outside of stories. After months of searching I discovered where he was. 
We are
 but preventing her from injuring another. The gulf between the dead and
 the living was something which our chemistry could not as yet bridge. "Sir 
Humphrey Tennant of Ashby may till his own fields for me," he
 cried. I have
 here my bales of cloth which I carry to Cahors--woe worth the day that
 ever I started on such an errand! I crave your gracious protection upon
 the way for me, my servant, and my mercery; for I have already had
 many perilous passages, and have now learned that Roger Club-foot, the
 robber-knight of Quercy, is out upon the road in front of me. To-morrow, I 
trust that
 we shall hear the last of it forever. "
 
 Sharp at the hour named Inspector Stanley Hopkins appeared, and we sat
 down together to the excellent breakfast which Mrs. "
 
 "And the none-meat horn has blown three times," quoth Harcomb, as they
 all streamed in chattering groups from the ground. A most practical, pressing 
matter, which must be decided
 within twenty-four hours. Round this clearing there was a semi-circle of trees 
with curious huts
 built of foliage piled one above the other among the branches. A
 rookery, with every nest a little house, would best convey the idea. In the 
corners stood carboys of acid in wicker baskets. He could hardly stand still so 
great was his mental agitation, and he
 ran towards Holmes with two eager hands outstretched. He understood that Mr. 
He slipped into the first
 room that he saw, and concealed himself behind the curtain. The country roads 
seem to be not very good
 in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. We had hardly 
done so
 before the driver whipped up his horse, and we plunged away at a
 furious pace through the foggy streets. Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and 
I saw him motion like a man
 who is in need of air. "A white cock," said he. "Gregory, let me recommend to 
your attention this singular epidemic
 among the sheep. Drive on, coachman!"
 
 Colonel Ross still wore an expression which showed the poor opinion
 which he had formed of my companion's ability, but I saw by the
 Inspector's face that his attention had been keenly aroused. "
 
 We had a pleasant little meal together, during which Holmes would talk
 about nothing but violins, narrating with great exultation how he had
 purchased his own Stradivarius, which was worth at least five hundred
 guineas, at a Jew broker's in Tottenham Court Road for fifty-five
 shillings. "This is, indeed, a most serious matter. It is too much to be 
balked by so petty an obstacle,
 when all else had been overcome. The clang of blows, the cries of
 the stricken, the short, deep shout of the islanders, and the fierce
 whoops of the rovers, rose together in a deafening tumult, while the
 breath of the panting men went up in the wintry air like the smoke from
 a furnace. A large
 sum of money is at stake, for the scholarship is a very valuable one,
 and an unscrupulous man might very well run a risk in order to gain an
 advantage over his fellows. The openings of these huts and the branches of the 
trees were thronged
 with a dense mob of ape-people, whom from their size I took to be the
 females and infants of the tribe. The Lady Tiphaine was lowered with a noose
 drawn fast under the arms, and the other five slid swiftly down, amid
 the cheers and joyous outcry of their rescuers. "Please be at the Black Swan 
Hotel at Winchester at midday
 to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. By St. Between friends, 
there is overmuch of
 the hangman in him, and too little of the prince. This, then, is the stage
 upon which tragedy has been played, and upon which we may help to play
 it again. Mrs. Marker, you can go. These have both been with him
 since his arrival, and they seem to be women of excellent character. You can 
even see his hearth and his
 couch if you have the curiosity to go inside. "
 
 Gregson looked quite crest-fallen. He
 is a harmless enough fellow, Parker by name, a garroter by trade, and a
 remarkable performer upon the jew's-harp. A sudden thought struck him,
 however, and he ran through the hall door and round to the lawn upon
 which the long French windows open. This morning he was removed to a cell, and 
I, after
 going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to
 you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. Mortimer had 
stayed to dinner, and he and the baronet played ecarte
 afterwards. "
 
 
 
 
 Chapter 4. Close behind us is the moline cross of the gallant
 William Molyneux, and beside it the bloody chevrons of the Norfork
 Woodhouses, with the amulets of the Musgraves of Westmoreland. Behind it all, 
however, came that
 low-pitched, deep-toned hum, which seemed to come from every quarter and
 to fill the whole air. We four white men walked in the
 rear with rifles loaded and ready. Pray allow me to keep the papers. "
 
 "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my
 request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been
 always locked up. The first time that I ever heard my comrade Black Simon
 laugh was in front of that door. The land where their fathers had bled, the 
home of
 chivalry and of knightly deeds, the country of gallant men, of courtly
 women, of princely buildings, of the wise, the polished and the sainted. No 
stream could be more convenient for
 navigation, since the prevailing wind is south-east, and sailing boats
 may make a continuous progress to the Peruvian frontier, dropping down
 again with the current. "There is a mental inhibition by which such symptoms 
can be checked and
 controlled," said Challenger. "Here is a
 hole in the side two ells across, the sail split through the centre,
 and the wood as bare as a friar's poll. "This is one of
 them. "There are a
 thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide
 upon our course of action. "I have every hope, however, that your horse
 will start upon Tuesday, and I beg that you will have your jockey in
 readiness. You would do well,
 Mr. "  He handed it to me and closed the
 door of his oak cabinet. "His Grace is not in the habit of posting letters 
himself," said he. "This letter was laid with others upon the study table, and 
I myself put
 them in the post-bag. "May the
 holy Benedict, patron of our house, be present this day and aid us in
 our findings! How many counts are there?"
 
 "Three, most holy father," the brother answered in a low and quavering
 voice. Holmes. "
 
 "Well, unless he has a burrow close by or a change of clothes ready,
 they can hardly miss him. The only other kinsman whom we have been able to 
trace was Rodger
 Baskerville, the youngest of three brothers of whom poor Sir Charles was
 the elder. With yells of
 triumph the Indians came flocking down from their caves and danced a
 frenzied dance of victory round the dead bodies, in mad joy that two
 more of the most dangerous of all their enemies had been slain. It is a 
capital mistake to theorize in advance of
 the facts. '
 
 "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you
 have stolen,' said I. ' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning
 across the room he flung open the door. We shall want you to come to-night by 
the last
 train. These alarms, and the desperate need
 for secrecy, argue that the matter is one of life or death. There were human 
beings, then, upon the plateau. There are the heather and
 the flowers and the birds. That one
 is politics. He
 wore shoes, but no socks, and his open coat disclosed a nightshirt
 beneath it. His wife is a bad
 lot, though. The other, who was secured in a similar
 fashion, was a tall man in the last stage of emaciation, with several
 strips of sticking-plaster arranged in a grotesque pattern over his
 face. When we reached it, all doubt was
 removed. I answered that it had ceased to be a private
 matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was
 national property. Once I lost
 myself, and it was only by good luck, and after an hour of wandering,
 that I found the camp once more. "
 
 "I should like these dates a little clearer," said MacDonald. It was a curious 
way of managing it, but,
 really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. Her sad, appealing eyes 
travelled from one to the other of us with a
 curiously inquisitive expression. She always comes to us when she is in town. "
 
 "A confidential servant?"
 
 "A little too much so. "But let the men break their fast, and we shall then 
take counsel what
 to do. In some way I had excited the
 suspicion of Lopez, the secretary. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns
 from her drive at seven. "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then. 
"
 
 "So it appears. Soames was somewhat overwhelmed by this flood of information. 
Then out came my poor young master, whom I
 had dandled on my knee, and confessed it all to me. "No doubt you think me 
mad?" said he. "
 
 "You think it will come to that?"
 
 He was in his most cheerful and debonair humour. When the drinks which 
followed the ceremony of initiation had all been
 disposed of, the business of the lodge proceeded. "It is nothing," she said, 
as I hastened to pour her out some water. This case, I presume, contains the 
coronet. "
 
 "Liar!" cried the woman; and, stooping her head, she suddenly bit
 fiercely into the broad brown hand which held her. Bethink you, Sir Simon,
 that we have this news from the lips of common spies, who can scarce
 tell us as much of the enemy and of his forces as the prince would wish
 to hear. "
 
 "You are the leader in this venture, Sir Nigel," the other answered,
 "and I do but ride under your banner. "
 
 "And once again, if the thought of leaving a bicycle concealed outside
 had occurred to you, would it really have seemed worth doing when the
 dullest detective would naturally say this is an obvious blind, as the
 bicycle is the first thing which the fugitive needed in order to make
 his escape. "Then you may bid farewell to your bed, soldier," said Hordle 
John. We could use the dining room, Ames. When I wrote last we were about to 
leave the Indian village where we
 had been deposited by the Esmeralda. My boys had been up
 the river and down the river without result. "Admirable!  Not only we as
 individuals, but European science collectively, owe you a deep debt of
 gratitude for what you have done. I do not hesitate to say that the
 disappearance of Professor Summerlee and myself would have left an
 appreciable gap in modern zoological history. "I have no doubt of it at all," 
said I. "
 
 "We shall hear anon," said Johnston quietly, and presently a young
 archer came running to say that the arrow had fallen twenty paces beyond
 the fourth wand. "Had I my dearest
 wish, it would be that we should go together. For that
 reason, after his arrival, the fire was lit. Help me, Mr. The
 unfortunate young man was found lying near the table. "
 
 "There have," said I, "been numerous petty thefts. "Your last remark," said 
Holmes, presently, "as to the possibility of
 there being an understanding between the burglar and the servant, and
 this being a note of appointment from one to the other, is an ingenious
 and not entirely impossible supposition. "Has
 anything else occurred to you?"
 
 "Yes, and no later than to-day. "Gone? Who?"
 
 "He, the man with the red head, the giant man. "
 
 "Yes," said Alleyne, "he hath gone. If you want to write good copy, you must 
be where the
 things are. That's enough for me and you. "
 
 "A very clear statement said Holmes," rising and lighting his pipe. Sherlock 
Holmes can return to London by the morning train. Hudson as she came up to 
lower the blinds. The young detective was in high spirits at his success. "
 
 "I presume that the reason he gave was that you would receive help from
 Sir Charles for the legal expenses connected with your divorce?"
 
 "Exactly. "
 
 "You can come to-night, anyhow, and it will help you to know what
 we stand for in this community. "Hang it all, Mr. Holmes!" cried the 
inspector. "This is surely most unfair and ungenerous upon your part. "It is 
something much more valuable to us. As to his escaping by that window, it was 
incredible. Unfolding it, I found that it
 consisted of three pages torn from his note-book and addressed to me. It
 was characteristic of the man that the direction was a precise, and the
 writing as firm and clear, as though it had been written in his study. It was 
enough to drive a woman out of
 her wits, tied there, and her very dress spotted with him, but she never
 wanted courage, did Miss Mary Fraser of Adelaide and Lady Brackenstall
 of Abbey Grange hasn't learned new ways. "
 
 "What is it, then?"
 
 "Well, you know, after a crime of this sort we are very careful to keep
 things in their position. "Holmes!" I cried. "
 
 I stooped under the rude lintel, and there he sat upon a stone outside,
 his gray eyes dancing with amusement as they fell upon my astonished
 features. "There are many things which might be done," said the forester
 thoughtfully. There is nothing more stimulating
 than a case where everything goes against you. In the
 case of Lucy Ferrier the occasion was serious enough in itself, apart
 from its future influence on her destiny and that of many besides. "
 
 "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when
 the alarm took place. "
 
 "Or Herman Strauss?"
 
 "No, nor him either. I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but 
I was
 always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings
 with Sherlock Holmes. "
 
 "Good gracious!"
 
 "So you'd say, sir, if you could see some of the goings on. "
 
 "Yes, you are quite right. I have put in two hours' hard work and covered at
 least five miles, with something to show for it. It was very clear to me that 
if dangers
 lay before us I could not in all England have found a cooler head or a
 braver spirit with which to share them. We could see the marks in the wood
 where it had been pushed in. "It was my father who was really concerned. I 
think we have drawn as much
 as we can from this curious letter; and now, Sir Henry, has anything
 else of interest happened to you since you have been in London?"
 
 "Why, no, Mr. I hereby
 agree to give you one rose-noble if you bring me safe to the inn of the
 'Angel' in Cahors, the same to be repaid to me or my heirs if any harm
 come to me or my goods. "It was at my advice that Sir Charles was about to go 
to London. They
 were at a boarding-house at Camberwell, over on the other side of the
 river. Both
 of them were smoking cigars, and coffee and wine were in front of them. "
 
 "How do you prove that?"
 
 "Because the candle was not guttered. "What, you're on his track?"
 
 "He has been heard of in Liverpool. "
 
 "Archer," quoth Hordle John, "you have lied more than once and more than
 twice; for which, and also because I see much in you to dislike, I am
 sorely tempted to lay you upon your back. It had already assembled, and
 only by complicated signs and countersigns could he pass through the
 outer guard and inner guard who close-tiled it. This then must for every 
reason be our road. In more
 fertile spots the observer would have come to the conclusion that one
 of those great herds of bisons which graze upon the prairie land was
 approaching him. "There are two ways out of the room," cried Ferrier; "there 
is the door,
 and there is the window. "We have passed the Pawnees, and there are no
 other tribes until we cross the great mountains. It is, in my
 opinion, the end of the world. I had been unduly excited by the adventure
 of the tree, and sleep seemed to be impossible. "
 
 He brought out a lump of basalt of a considerable size, constructed in
 the middle so that a cord could be easily attached to it. "
 
 "Ha! Would there be any objection, Mr. "I don't know much of British life yet, 
for I have
 spent nearly all my time in the States and in Canada. "Why should you raise up 
hopes which you
 are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I
 call it cruel. You have nothing else to report to us before we
 go into this matter?"
 
 "Well, it depends upon what you think worth reporting. "
 
 "Then you'll need to kneel down, and me too," she said, laying the shawl
 out for that purpose. The one is whether any crime
 has been committed at all; the second is, what is the crime and how was
 it committed? Of course, if Dr. "French land, French blood, French speech," she
 answered. "They are French, and France shall have them. "They can count on us 
saying no more than we should. Here are their marks on the left--here,
 beside the laurel bushes. You can look for yourself. He returns to the
 house, and you want to find out who he is. At the age of twenty-one he wrote a 
treatise upon the Binomial
 Theorem, which has had a European vogue. Hard he was of hand and harder of 
heart, hated
 by his foes, and yet not loved by those whom he protected, for twice he
 had been taken prisoner, and twice his ransom had been wrung by dint
 of blows and tortures out of the starving peasants and ruined farmers. George 
ramping on a discolored ground, all
 proclaimed as plainly as words that he was indeed from the land of war. But 
what is that
 upon the other galley?"
 
 "It is the red cross of Genoa. "
 
 "Thank you, you have gone rather too far to stop. Stapleton
 still looked hard at him. "
 
 "My difficulty is the more formidable of the two, for I think that we
 shall very shortly get an explanation of yours, while mine may remain
 forever a mystery. "I came here to interview you, Professor, but it seems to 
be a case of
 'Is this nigger fishing, or is this fish niggering?' You're doing most of
 the work. Holmes before," said Inspector MacDonald. Then he tried the various 
keys in the lock, but
 without success. He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to 
put on
 his overcoat. As the evening wore on
 his excitement became quite painful. I should have thought shame upon my 
manhood, as well as my
 monkhood, if I had held back my hand from her. There was
 no answer. The three most essential are gone--stolen, vanished. "That's it!" 
cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would
 kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb
 used to be. You have seen the cloisters; it were well that you should see the
 world too, ere you make choice for life between them. This sort of
 nose is usually a short and coarse one, but there is a sufficient number
 of exceptions to prevent me from being dogmatic or from insisting upon
 this point in my description. "
 
 "Nay, nay, my dear Oliver," said Sir Nigel, laying his hand upon his
 angry friend's arm. We had during this time been following the guidance of 
Toby down the
 half-rural villa-lined roads which lead to the metropolis. My brother
 and I used to think this a mere whim of my father's, but events have
 since led us to change our opinion. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. "
 
 With a few broken words of gratitude the man turned, but he hesitated
 and then came back. His only remark was, "There's
 some new stuff, cuticura or something, which is better than arnica. He'll 
crack a crib in Scotland one week,
 and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. I've been on 
his track for years and have never set eyes on him
 yet. Money's not everything. I'll have him
 out of my house before the day is done. "There has been murder done, and the 
murderer was a
 man. "
 
 It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had
 no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a
 confectioner's man with a very large flat box. Holmes read it and was about to 
place it in his notebook
 when he caught a glimpse of my expectant face. He has a high opinion of you 
and thought that you were the
 one man in London who could help him. We were passing him when he
 raised his face to look at us in the circle of light thrown by the lamp,
 and as he did so he stopped and screamed out in a dreadful voice, "My
 God, it's Nancy!" Mrs. "
 
 "True for you," said McGinty. "You will rise high in your profession. Holmes," 
said he, "my wife was
 twenty before her father became a rich man. "Well, I think that under the
 circumstances we may enter without an invitation. Holmes?" said he. When I
 paced one corridor and found it six feet shorter than the corresponding
 one below, it was pretty clear where he was. "
 
 "Is he your junior?"
 
 "Seven years my senior. Anger, amazement, consternation, and
 indecision swept over it in turn. Finally he took refuge in a somewhat
 acrid irony. "Well, perhaps it won't be so difficult, after all. He may be 
dozin',
 and at the worst he can only wing one of us, and the other should have
 him. "It is not an airy nothing, you see," said he, smiling. During that time
 I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that
 this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended
 with the last generation. One experiment served to show me the line of his
 investigation. The other belonged to the
 dining-room, which was the apartment in which the mysterious affair had
 occurred. The next instant
 it was gone--and so was our dinner. A SCANDAL IN BOHEMIA
 
 I. There was no reason why those six
 should be different from any of the other casts. The boats already swarm from 
the bank. Him we enlisted at Para, on the
 recommendation of the steamship company, on whose vessels he had
 learned to speak a halting English. It was at Para also that we engaged Gomez 
and Manuel, two half-breeds
 from up the river, just come down with a cargo of redwood. He slipped into 
this room, because it was
 the first that he saw. "There is material here. I see that these candles in 
the mantelpiece have
 been lighted. '
 
 "'Anything else?' he asked, smiling. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very 
happy to
 accommodate myself to your wishes. 'Then the
 worse for thy soul!' said he; and with that he broke into a long tale
 how that on account of the virtues of the Abbot Berghersh it had been
 decreed by the Pope that whoever should wear the habit of a monk of
 Beaulieu for as long as he might say the seven psalms of David should be
 assured of the kingdom of Heaven. When I heard this I prayed him on
 my knees that he would give me the use of his gown, which after many
 contentions he at last agreed to do, on my paying him three marks
 towards the regilding of the image of Laurence the martyr. But it
 did seem very loud. A criminal strain
 ran in his blood, which, instead of being modified, was increased and
 rendered infinitely more dangerous by his extraordinary mental powers. And 
now, my dear Watson, without
 referring to my notes, I cannot give you a more detailed account of
 this curious case. If such
 a knight as Sir Oliver Buttesthorn may turn against his own prince for
 the sake of a light word, then where are we to look for steadfast faith
 and constancy?"
 
 "Ah! my dear little coz, it is easy to sit in the sunshine and preach to
 the man in the shadow. My own nervous system is an exceptionally sensitive 
one. Take my advice and be
 frank with me. '
 
 "These are the very papers, Watson, which he handed to me, and I will
 read them to you, as I read them in the old study that night to him. "'In a 
most extraordinary fashion. '
 
 "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the
 night. ' An instant afterwards there appeared a little
 wizened fellow with a cringing manner and a shambling style of
 walking. I could
 understand his regarding it as of small importance when I looked at it,
 for the metal was almost black and the stones lustreless and dull. The ceiling 
was only a foot or two above my head, and with
 my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. No stream could be more 
convenient for
 navigation, since the prevailing wind is south-east, and sailing boats
 may make a continuous progress to the Peruvian frontier, dropping down
 again with the current. Well, you shall hear from me to-morrow. "
 
 "Has he jeered at you than?"
 
 "Pardieu! yes, 'Old Sir Oliver's heart is still stout,' said one of his
 court. "How far to Wallington?" he asked. "And what is it
 we are watching for?"
 
 "I have no more notion than you how long it is to last," Holmes answered
 with some asperity. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us
 all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this
 advertisement had upon your fortunes. I ask you not merely because my friend
 Dr. "
 
 "American slang is very expressive sometimes. "
 
 "I cannot call any to mind," answered Sir Nigel. Five hundred paces from the 
English the two great bodies
 of horse crossed each other, and, sweeping round in a curve, retired
 in feigned confusion towards their centre. "You have been cruelly used," said 
Holmes. "You are the wrong sort for such work. I have money enough and to 
spare. Having found the
 ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss
 where he had tossed it. Twice
 he stopped, and once I saw him smile, and heard him utter an exclamation
 of satisfaction. "Well, now, Watson, let us judge the situation by this new 
information. Holmes, have you solved this mystery yet?" He shoved the
 large tin of cigarettes which stood on a table beside him towards my
 companion. "
 
 Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. "You've
 heard about me, Mr. Holmes. According to his lights he has been a
 kind master. After leaving the house he
 discovered his loss and hurried back, but found the police already in
 possession, owing to his own folly in leaving the candle burning. If it's on 
the market I'll buy
 it--if it means another penny on the income-tax. On the other hand, it seemed 
an
 unthinkable coincidence that a man should dare to enter the room,
 and that by chance on that very day the papers were on the table. The land
 of France! Alleyne's eyes shone as he gazed upon it. Watson's umbrella, I was 
able last night to fish up and
 inspect this bundle. "It was of the first importance, however, that we should 
be able to
 prove who placed it there. "
 
 "Except that!" my friend answered, pointing at the pathway. 'Is all ready for 
Sir Henry?' That will
 do. Address to Mr. Barrymore, Baskerville Hall. "
 
 "Ha! Where is Barrymore?"
 
 "He is in charge of the Hall. Summerlee was shivering like a man with the 
ague, human
 fears, as he realized his position, rising for an instant above the
 stoicism of the man of science. May I ask for volunteers?"
 
 It is thus that the great crisis of a man's life springs out at him. Could I 
have imagined when I entered that hall that I was about to
 pledge myself to a wilder adventure than had ever come to me in my
 dreams?  But Gladys--was it not the very opportunity of which she
 spoke?  Gladys would have told me to go. I had sprung to my feet. "
 
 "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?"
 
 "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should
 suspect him. You can hardly find a flaw in the case which can now be presented
 against him, and all further investigation has served to strengthen it. Was I 
right?"
 
 Barker beat his head with his clenched fist in his impotent anger. It is of no 
importance to us, however, since the decanters
 were full, and it had therefore not been used. Sometimes, for an
 instant, it was at fault. Then it would catch it up again and come
 bounding swiftly along the path I had taken. I huddled on my clothes and 
hurried downstairs in an exceedingly bad
 temper to order some hot water. You know I like to work the detail of my cases 
out. Bhurtee was relieved by Neill next
 day, but the rebels took me away with them in their retreat, and it was
 many a long year before ever I saw a white face again. I was tortured
 and tried to get away, and was captured and tortured again. "
 
 "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. "Oh, she has 
turned all the men's heads down in that part. And yet it may be wise that we
 make a move before it is worse. We know at least
 that he came so far in safety. S. ," upon the
 lid. "This is indeed a fine sight upon which it is good to look, and a
 man might go far ere he would see so many brave men and fine horses. I
 have pined for this, Aylward, as a young maid pines for her lover. Warren?"
 
 "No, sir. He eats so little that I often wonder it can keep life in
 one. There are small windows on each side,
 which were covered by curtains and never opened. "The danger may bide," said 
he, shrugging his broad shoulders. My view of the case is the correct one. And 
yet, without a harshness which was foreign to his nature, it was
 impossible to refuse to listen to the story of the young and beautiful
 woman, tall, graceful, and queenly, who presented herself at Baker
 Street late in the evening, and implored his assistance and advice. "You 
didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. "We have not heard your story, and we 
cannot tell how far justice may
 originally have been on your side. I
 am so sorry about it. To make it the more
 extraordinary, there was no side road at this point down which he could
 have gone. That night he sat up with his gun and kept watch and
 ward. The whole town must be
 alight. Brunton then unlocked the box, handed up
 the contents presumably--since they were not to be found--and then--and
 then what happened?
 
 "What smouldering fire of vengeance had suddenly sprung into flame in
 this passionate Celtic woman's soul when she saw the man who had wronged
 her--wronged her, perhaps, far more than we suspected--in her power?
 Was it a chance that the wood had slipped, and that the stone had shut
 Brunton into what had become his sepulchre? Had she only been guilty of
 silence as to his fate? Or had some sudden blow from her hand dashed the
 support away and sent the slab crashing down into its place? Be that
 as it might, I seemed to see that woman's figure still clutching at her
 treasure trove and flying wildly up the winding stair, with her ears
 ringing perhaps with the muffled screams from behind her and with the
 drumming of frenzied hands against the slab of stone which was choking
 her faithless lover's life out. "Here was the secret of her blanched face, her 
shaken nerves, her peals
 of hysterical laughter on the next morning. "
 
 Challenger chuckled and rubbed his hands. "I will venture a rover with you, or 
try long-butts or hoyles," said old
 Johnston. "
 
 "Hadn't you better reserve that for your trial?" asked the Inspector. The one
 at his elbow is Fernando de Castro, who is as brave and true a man as
 heart could wish. There was no mistaking the poise of the
 head, the squareness of the shoulders, the sharpness of the features. That 
night--I am still speaking of the first day of our
 circumnavigation of the plateau--a great experience awaited us, and one
 which for ever set at rest any doubt which we could have had as to the
 wonders so near us. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything
 since then to throw any light upon what became of him. As to this terrible 
person of yours,
 where is he?"
 
 "I rather fancy that he is on the stair," said Holmes, serenely. The double 
line a little
 above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table,
 was beautifully defined. From the time that I heard of the assistant having 
come for
 half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive
 for securing the situation. "
 
 "If he said so, I certainly cannot deny it. Let those go back who will, but I 
must see more of these
 Spaniards ere I turn. Is it a
 fact that at the weights Bayard could give the other a hundred yards in
 five furlongs, and that the stable have put their money on him?'
 
 "'So, you're one of those damned touts!' cried the lad. Baker?"
 
 "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat. "
 
 He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a
 broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of
 grizzled brown. Tell Aylward, Alleyne,
 that he is to come with me to Montaubon, and to choose one archer for
 his comrade. The rest will to Dax when the prince starts, which will be
 before the feast of the Epiphany. I stood for a few minutes
 with my heart in my boots, wondering whether the whole thing was an
 elaborate hoax or not, when up came a man and addressed me. "Pray, what did 
you do then?" he
 murmured. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are
 tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant. The rest will to Dax 
when the prince starts, which will be
 before the feast of the Epiphany. Hardly
 yet have we learned the full tale of disaster, but the destruction by
 fire of New York, of Orleans, and of Brighton constitutes in itself one
 of the greatest tragedies in the history of our race. When the account
 of the railway and shipping accidents has been completed, it will furnish
 grim reading, although there is evidence to show that in the vast
 majority of cases the drivers of trains and engineers of steamers
 succeeded in shutting off their motive power before succumbing to the
 poison. "
 
 The darkness was rising, but much was still hidden by the shadows. Colonel
 Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I
 should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the
 time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat
 at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than
 once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me
 with great intensity. There he sat on his veranda, drinking
 whiskey-pegs and smoking cheroots, while the country was in a blaze
 about him. What did the police think of the
 noise which awoke you from your sleep?"
 
 "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his
 bedroom door. The various checks which influence the
 struggle for existence in the world at large are all neutralized or
 altered. McMurdo was absorbed and silent; but he showed no sympathy for the
 weakening of his companion. The police seemed to take
 particular interest in him that morning, and Captain Marvin--he who had
 claimed the old acquaintance with him at Chicago--actually addressed him
 as he waited at the station. On
 examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill,
 and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of
 the bedroom. Over the gently rising plain curved the
 white road which leads inland, usually flecked with travellers, but now
 with scarce a living form upon it, so completely had the lists drained
 all the district of its inhabitants. The enormously thick walls and tiny 
windows
 of this part had in the last century driven the family into building the
 new wing, and the old one was used now as a store-house and a cellar,
 when it was used at all. He had always a taste for low company. Then he 
staggered to his feet,
 received another shot, and rolled upon the floor. "I have told you all I know. 
I have already looked into the matter,
 and have come, as I think, within sight of my solution. My senses
 swam, but I still tore at the hand and forced it out from my chin. As I turned 
I caught a glimpse of a convulsed face
 and frantic eyes. "Dear knights and gentlemen," he cried in a high crackling 
voice,
 "worthy Christian cavaliers, will ye ride past and leave an aged pilgrim
 to die of hunger? The sight hast been burned from mine eyes by the sands
 of the Holy Land, and I have had neither crust of bread nor cup of wine
 these two days past. "Well, if there is nothing to be learned here, we had
 best go inside. "My dear chap,
 I'm overjoyed to see you. Watson, could tell you that we are very busy at
 present. "
 
 "It certainly did cross my mind that it might be a little dull--less for
 you, perhaps, than for your sister. "My, but that was smart!  You had it down 
to a fine thing. "
 
 "Yes, a few of us even then could have guessed the date. So shaken was he that 
I had to pass
 my hand under his arm as we went up the stairs, for his knees were
 trembling under him. In spite of the danger from dinosaurs (which is not great 
save at
 night, for, as I may have said before, they are mostly nocturnal in
 their habits) I have twice in the last three weeks been over to our old
 camp in order to see our negro who still kept watch and ward below the
 cliff. He turned to me, and I felt the tide of
 life stealing warmly through my arteries. "
 
 I knew already that Sir Charles Baskerville had made Stapleton his
 almoner upon several occasions, so the lady's statement bore the impress
 of truth upon it. "
 
 "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Holmes swept his 
light
 along the window-sill. Chapter XI
 
 The Great Agra Treasure
 
 Our captive sat in the cabin opposite to the iron box which he had done
 so much and waited so long to gain. The Light upon the Moor [Second Report of 
Dr. "Good-morning, Colonel," said he; "I hope I don't intrude, but we hear
 that Mr. Holmes," said he; "good-morning. "
 
 Sherlock Holmes laughed. "
 
 "And why did the tramp take nothing?"
 
 "Because they were papers that he could not negotiate. Only a few weeks ago 
she was cleaning out
 Sir Charles's study--it had never been touched since his death--and she
 found the ashes of a burned letter in the back of the grate. Do not be so
 suspicious. Holmes. To my horror I
 perceived that the yellow blossoms were all dabbled with crimson. "
 
 The bowman shook his head. You would have wished to tell me something, or in 
your
 kindness you would have brought me out some comfort or other, and so an
 unnecessary risk would be run. So! Beat high and low
 among the heather, and a pot of wine to the lucky marksman. "
 
 They were not long in coming. "Let me see that letter you were writing. "
 
 The detective seated himself in the arm-chair, and puffed complacently
 at his cigar. I can give you his description, and we
 have a very excellent outline of his footmark. He fired and missed me. "
 
 "Here are paper and pen. No, I
 fancy we shall get no help here. "
 
 "What then?"
 
 "We shall get out at Canterbury. "
 
 "Can we? It is not so easy as you seem to think. Then he reseated himself in 
his chair and looked them over
 with a gleam of satisfaction in his eyes. They were but
 a foraging party--a hundred archers and as many men-at-arms--but their
 leader was Sir Hugh Calverley, and he was not a man to bide idle when
 good blows were to be had not three leagues from him. "
 
 "Exactly. When at last his ruffled feelings
 were at ease, he addressed us at some length from his seat upon a
 fallen tree, speaking, as his habit was, as if he were imparting most
 precious information to a class of a thousand. At
 last I saw them hire a boat and start for a row, for it was a very hot
 day, and they thought, no doubt, that it would be cooler on the water. Again, 
in Arles and Nimes, and other towns that I could name, there are
 the great arches and fortalices still standing which were built of old
 by giant men who came from the south. How do all these
 unusuals strike you, Watson?"
 
 "Their cumulative effect is certainly considerable, and yet each of them
 is quite possible in itself. I have it here in my pocket. The culprit is--"
 
 "Mr. She looked again, but there was no sound
 or movement. "Well, now I come to the queer part of my story. "The world is 
dead. "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the
 estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north,
 and Hampshire in the west. Had anyone visited you in your room after
 the papers came to you?"
 
 "Yes, young Daulat Ras, an Indian student, who lives on the same stair,
 came in to ask me some particulars about the examination. Oldacre kept himself 
very much to himself, and only
 met people in the way of business. He has had the reputation of being a
 man of eccentric habits, secretive and retiring. "He was summoned once for a 
savage assault upon the old vicar, who had
 called upon him to remonstrate with him upon his conduct. "Then we shall march 
thither, for I would fain have you all back at Dax
 in time to be in the prince's vanguard. "It is
 clear enough that the hound has been laid on from some article of
 Sir Henry's--the boot which was abstracted in the hotel, in all
 probability--and so ran this man down. The first thing that strikes one is the 
obvious
 possibility that the person now in the rooms may be entirely different
 from the one who engaged them. London dangers were the privilege
 of the London force. The door of the left-hand flat upon the third landing was 
standing
 ajar. Friesland, a Dutch-American liner, which asserts
 that at nine next morning, Start Point being at the time ten miles upon
 their starboard quarter, they were passed by something between a flying
 goat and a monstrous bat, which was heading at a prodigious pace south
 and west. If its homing instinct led it upon the right line, there can
 be no doubt that somewhere out in the wastes of the Atlantic the last
 European pterodactyl found its end. Lord John looked eagerly round him and 
slipped
 two cartridges into his elephant-gun. Yellow cap and sleeves. Lord 
Singleford's Rasper. As for myself, I am glad to
 have got the bustling days of preparation and the pangs of leave-taking
 behind me, and I have no doubt that I show it in my bearing. The same post 
brought me a letter from
 Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the
 description tallied in every respect with that of their employé,
 James Windibank. Stanley Hopkins drew the key from his pocket and had stooped 
to the
 lock, when he paused with a look of attention and surprise upon his
 face. The old man lay back in his chair
 with a twitching face, and stared at her with brooding eyes. A broad leather 
strap hanging from his
 shoulder supported a scrip or satchel such as travellers were wont to
 carry. When I came down to our room I found the breakfast laid
 and Homes pouring out the coffee. Louis. Here is the letter which I had
 this morning acknowledging my assistance. 'A husband's cruelty to his
 wife. 'This is all quite beside the question. My boy, my boy, you are very 
much too good to be a
 clerk at Mawson's!'
 
 "This outburst rather astonished me, as you can think. "
 
 "Nay, trouble not for that," said Alleyne, "we are all from good mother
 Eve. I
 have found them out. There were six of us, and
 we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time
 to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. She would do 
better to trust me. She made no outcry whatever. She was clearly no mere paid 
dependant, but an
 honored friend. So far my thoughts had carried me, and I was about to break 
the long
 and uneasy silence, when two critical, dark eyes looked round at me,
 and the proud head was shaken in smiling reproof. Who would have believed it 
possible?  But I feel very
 much fresher, and ready for my fate--or try to persuade myself that I am. Who 
then but Miss Burnet, the governess?  All our
 reasoning seems to point that way. "She broke away from your influence when 
she found the man that you
 are," said Holmes, sternly. As her
 medical adviser, I cannot possibly take the responsibility of allowing
 anyone to see her. "Queer spot to choose, is it not?" said he as if in answer 
to my
 thought. "But what is it?"
 
 "The peasants say it is the Hound of the Baskervilles calling for its
 prey. For years I've been
 dreaming of the bright green fields and the hedges of England. I think that it 
is most probable that Beddoes, pushed to
 desperation and believing himself to have been already betrayed, had
 revenged himself upon Hudson, and had fled from the country with as much
 money as he could lay his hands on. This was a tall young man, surprisingly
 handsome, with a dark, fierce face, and the limbs and chest of a
 Hercules. This carpet. "
 
 "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him. Simon glanced over 
it. I can make neither head nor tail of the business. Abdullah Khan,
 however, thinking that I hesitated, pressed the matter more closely. 
"'Consider, Sahib,' said he, 'that if this man is taken by the
 commandant he will be hung or shot, and his jewels taken by the
 government, so that no man will be a rupee the better for them. Now,
 since we do the taking of him, why should we not do the rest as well?
 The jewels will be as well with us as in the Company's coffers. Oh, you will 
see it out, will you?  I thought I
 knew my Watson. "
 
 "Your words are strange to me," quoth Sir Nigel, "for you have the
 appearance of a stout man, and I see that you wear a sword by your
 side. "At the end of that time she shall give her answer. "I've heard," said 
the sergeant, "that it was usually raised at sunset. "
 
 "I'm expecting the end of the world to-day, Austin. Now we both rushed along 
the corridor
 and down the steep steps which led to Charles Street. Yet even without knowing 
his brilliant record one could not fail to be
 impressed by a mere glance at the man, the square, massive face, the
 brooding eyes under the thatched brows, and the granite moulding of the
 inflexible jaw. "Wilt do what I ask?" said she. "What is it, lady?"
 
 "Oh, most ungallant clerk! A true knight would never have asked, but
 would have vowed upon the instant. "You have forced me, against my own
 judgment, to tell you, and now we must both make the best of it. "Well, I am. "
 
 The lecturer unlocked the outer door and ushered us into his room. He had 
changed
 from the horse upon which he had ridden, and bestrode the black charger
 which his squire had led beside him. "Had enough?" he panted. "You infernal 
bully!" I cried, as I gathered myself together. "
 
 It was a question which it was easier to ask than to answer. One would imagine 
that under such
 circumstances the first act of young Cadogan West would be to seize the
 villain and raise the alarm. An important addition has been made during the 
last
 week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by
 these charming invaders. Douglas and the man Barker before they were aware of 
my
 presence. But there was no
 stain. How have the years used you?  You look the same blithe boy
 as ever. "He walked down the road and went into one or two liquor shops, 
staying
 for nearly half-an-hour in the last of them. But,
 by my hilt! you must render them back to me, camarade, lest you bring
 discredit upon my mission, and I will pay you for them at armorers'
 prices. "
 
 Holmes and I had listened with the utmost interest to this extraordinary
 statement, which had been delivered in the jerky, broken fashion of a
 man who is under the influence of extreme emotions. But if you are found 
again, then all must come out. "
 
 But his narrative was nipped in the bud. For the rest, there is nothing which 
a sponge may not cure. You will kindly deposit your ash in the small Japanese
 tray on the bamboo table which stands at your left elbow. By the way, are you 
by any chance the Malone who is
 expected to get his Rugby cap for Ireland?"
 
 "A reserve, perhaps. "
 
 There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans,
 and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the
 orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as
 resolute as themselves, was upon their track. "
 
 Barker stood for a moment with his face set grimly and his strong black
 eyebrows drawn low in intense thought. I didn't hear no one else. The mere 
knowing of
 his name is a small thing, however, compared with the power of laying
 our hands upon him. Several times Stapleton lurked about
 with his hound, but without avail. It is with this
 man that we are concerned. He came back alone,
 for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. We would fly together to 
Philadelphia or
 New York, where we would be safe from them. "
 
 "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. How far do 
you think it is?"
 
 "Out by the Cleft Tor, I think. I think it is safe to say that things can 
never be
 quite the same again. It ran
 in this way--
 
 
 SHERLOCK HOLMES--his limits. "Never mind, my friends," said the indomitable 
Challenger. It
 is most improper--most outrageous. "
 
 "Was your sister dressed?"
 
 "No, she was in her night-dress. "No doubt you think that you are
 complimenting me in comparing me to Dupin," he observed. "
 
 "Besides, if it comes to the cropping of ears, there are other folk who
 may say their say," quoth the third laborer. Produced by David Brannan
 
 
 
 
 
 THE VALLEY OF FEAR
 
 By Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
 
 
 
 
 Part 1--The Tragedy of Birlstone
 
 
 
 
 Chapter 1--The Warning
 
 
 
 "I am inclined to think--" said I. Conan Doyle
 
 
 
 
 Chapter 1. Additions to the text include adding the underscore character to
 indicate italics, and textual end-notes in square braces. Project Gutenberg 
Editor's Note: In reproofing and moving old PG
 files such as this to the present PG directory system it is the
 policy to reformat the text to conform to present PG Standards. In this case 
however, in consideration of the note above of the
 original transcriber describing his care to try to duplicate the
 original 1887 edition as to typography and punctuation vagaries,
 no changes have been made in this ascii text file. We were quietly married at a
 registry office, and we returned to Norfolk a wedded couple. Over this chaplet 
my brother Bartholomew and I had some
 little discussion. As they passed over the drawbridge,
 Alleyne marked the gleam of arms in the embrasures to right and left,
 and they had scarce set foot upon the causeway ere a hoarse blare
 burst from a bugle, and, with screech of hinge and clank of chain, the
 ponderous bridge swung up into the air, drawn by unseen hands. And there we 
were, the four of us, upon the dreamland, the lost world,
 of Maple White. If such
 a knight as Sir Oliver Buttesthorn may turn against his own prince for
 the sake of a light word, then where are we to look for steadfast faith
 and constancy?"
 
 "Ah! my dear little coz, it is easy to sit in the sunshine and preach to
 the man in the shadow. North, south, east, and west--he might
 turn where he would, but all was equally chill and cheerless. The Abbot
 had rolled ten silver crowns in a lettuce-leaf and hid them away in the
 bottom of his scrip, but that would be a sorry support for twelve long
 months. He had been dead some days, but there was no wound or
 bruise upon his person to show how he had met his dreadful end. For him the 
villain, for me the microbe. "You would have thought the middle of that prairie 
a fairly safe
 place for a man to be private," said he, "but, by thunder, the whole
 countryside seems to have been out to see me do my wooing--and a mighty
 poor wooing at that! Where had you engaged a seat?"
 
 "I was on that hill. "A man can't expect always to have it his own way, can 
he, Dr. "It will bring YOU into
 the dock, Holmes, not me. The diagram upon it appears to be a
 plan of part of a large building with numerous halls, corridors, and
 passages. It is probable that he
 imagined his crime to be a bloodless one, and hoped that if the
 body were consumed it would hide all traces of the method of his
 death--traces which, for some reason, must have pointed to him. Clair has 
entered it never to leave it more. As to
 Mrs. For an instant I imagined that I
 had left my own there, but on feeling in my pocket I found that it was
 all right. Why was
 that?"
 
 "We played cards for her on the voyage. "Or thought he did, which is quite 
another matter. Simeon and the Devil. '"
 
 "Or the 'Jest of Hendy Tobias. "Well, would
 you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry
 your Highness to the police-station?"
 
 "That is better," said John Clay serenely. "Why should I not? And yet I hate to
 think of this old scandal gaining a new lease of life. "It
 has done harm to many and good to none--not even to yourself. Are you hungry, 
Watson?"
 
 "Not particularly. Wilson? Have you a family?'
 
 "I answered that I had not. "His face fell immediately. "'Dear me!' he said 
gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am
 sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the
 propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their
 maintenance. The sidewalks were narrow and uneven. In that gloomy tunnel it 
must indeed have been a
 dreadful sight to see that huge black creature, with its flaming jaws
 and blazing eyes, bounding after its victim. These are only a
 few indications, but they may assist you. That he could play pieces, and 
difficult pieces, I knew well, because
 at my request he has played me some of Mendelssohn's Lieder, and other
 favourites. "Holmes!" I cried--"Holmes!"
 
 "Come out," said he, "and please be careful with the revolver. "Holmes!" in 
the insistent tone of one who awakens
 a sleeper. "Can't you hear me, Holmes?"  There was a rustling, as if
 he had shaken the sick man roughly by the shoulder. "
 
 "I guess you'll pay for this, Captain Marvin," said McGinty. Her bed this 
morning had not been slept in, her room was
 empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. He sat forward, his
 hands clasped and his forearms on his knees, with an answering smile
 upon his bold, handsome face. Naturally he had no doubt that Cadogan West was 
guilty. They all agreed that only two voices were to be heard, those of Barclay
 and of his wife. In the open, and near the edge of the cliff, there had 
assembled a
 crowd of some hundred of these shaggy, red-haired creatures, many of
 them of immense size, and all of them horrible to look upon. Percy Phelps," 
answered Holmes. "Ah, my unfortunate nephew! You can understand that our 
kinship makes
 it the more impossible for me to screen him in any way. I fear that the
 incident must have a very prejudicial effect upon his career. "
 
 Holmes considered for some little time. Then as the air became perceptibly 
better, but our own
 symptoms more acute, he closed it once again. He
 was the last man in the world whose deliberate command I should care to
 disobey. In this I fancy that in any case
 he made a miscalculation, and that, if we had not been there, his doom
 would none the less have been sealed. "Why," I cried, "you have an aortic 
aneurism!"
 
 "That's what they call it," he said, placidly. Who could come to-night? Some 
friend of yours, perhaps?"
 
 "Except yourself I have none," he answered. I told you
 that I had a store in the East before I came here. Then I rushed up
 the stairs, only to find two other rooms empty and deserted at the top. I 
understand that this other passage leads only to the professor's
 room. A huge rock, falling from above, boomed past me, struck the
 path, and bounded over into the chasm. Harding would be
 absent until afternoon, and that he was himself a newcomer, who could
 give us no information. I am, as you have no doubt surmised,
 endeavouring to trace these busts to their source, in order to find if
 there is not something peculiar which may account for their remarkable
 fate. Far away a chiming clock struck out the quarters of the
 hours, but otherwise a deathly silence lay upon the old house. This cloud 
continued to increase in size until it became evident that it
 could only be raised by a great multitude of moving creatures. In order to 
negotiate with him they have to get an interpreter,
 and they pitch upon this Mr. So steep were the rocky banks on either side of 
them, that the larch
 and the pine seemed to be suspended over their heads, and to need only a
 gust of wind to come hurtling down upon them. "
 He suddenly gave her a resounding kiss, which embarrassed me even more
 than his violence had done. "You've
 seen the postman. The woman looked at him intently, and ground her
 heel into his upturned face. "By my faith! Sir John," said the prince as he 
rode through the winding
 streets on his way to the list, "I should have been glad to have
 splintered a lance to-day. I remember such a one in Picardy, with a name as 
long as a Gascon's
 pedigree. No, sir, I'll not believe it. "
 
 "Thank you, that will do," said Holmes. "
 
 "What is the alley like?"
 
 "There are two lines of old yew hedge, twelve feet high and
 impenetrable. "
 
 "Then let us go and look at the room. "Well, I really can wait no longer. "
 
 "Certainly," answered my friend, rising from his chair. He comes from Hordle, 
and this is his mother who
 hath come forth to welcome him. What would he do?"
 
 "Come again next night with a more useful tool. "
 
 "I think I should back my little friend," said Lord John, caressing his
 Express. CHAPTER XXVI. HOW THE BAILIFF OF SOUTHAMPTON SLEW THE TWO MASTERLESS 
MEN. St. Clair's house. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. "
 
 Never in my life have I seen such a sight. For years I had gradually weaned him
 from that drug mania which had threatened once to check his remarkable
 career. Once only he paused in his patient investigation. There were folk, 
too, to be met upon the road--beggars and couriers,
 chapmen and tinkers--cheery fellows for the most part, with a rough jest
 and homely greeting for each other and for Alleyne. What is it for?"
 
 "It is the side entrance for trades-people. I do not know. I could not help 
smiling at the document when I had completed it. "But when one gets old one has 
a longing for home. "
 
 "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. I need not say
 that I rushed for my coat and my hat. "
 
 "You will excuse me, Mr. By the side of the track the old dame was standing,
 fastening her red whimple once more round her head. Yet,
 ere the last string had twanged, he would be down on his four bones
 among the stricken, and have them all houseled and shriven, as quick as
 shelling peas. "
 
 There was a rustle among the bowmen, but when Sir Nigel looked up at
 them no man stood forward from his fellows, but the four lines of men
 stretched unbroken as before. The more deeply sunk impression is, of course,
 the hind wheel, upon which the weight rests. And yet, as he had guessed, the 
game was not over yet. You are very welcome to
 put any questions that you like to me now, and there is no danger that I
 will refuse to answer them. Might I ask
 you, Watson, to open that window, and then to put a match to the edge of
 the straw?"
 
 I did so, and driven by the draught a coil of gray smoke swirled down
 the corridor, while the dry straw crackled and flamed. "Now we must see if we 
can find this witness for you, Lestrade. It was my turn to jump out of my 
chair. "
 
 "One moment," said Holmes. "Why not?"
 
 "Because I always keep faith. "It
 has done harm to many and good to none--not even to yourself. Obviously they
 have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round
 the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. What could that
 something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was
 out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. "
 
 "And then?"
 
 "And then you will say nothing to him at all until I have made up my
 mind about the matter. As they turned to the car
 Holmes pointed back to the moonlit sea and shook a thoughtful head. Without a
 word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door
 of which was standing open. I did not know which way to turn or what
 I should do first. In that case, regarding Stapleton as an unmarried man, she
 counted no doubt upon becoming his wife. A
 taxicab was waiting at the end of the road, so I sprang into it and
 drove down to the office. ' I have spent an instructive afternoon in the 
rector's library,
 and have enlarged my knowledge by adding the fact that Vermissa is a
 flourishing little town at the head of one of the best known coal and
 iron valleys in the United States. I hereby banish it completely from my 
presence. "
 
 "Do not lose an instant. "Well, whoever noticed it, it shows how our
 gentleman got away. "
 
 "Then I'd better try my luck with the original. "By Saint James! it
 is now my turn to show you where my weapon has the better of you. You have 
seen me hold a spear since I had
 strength to lift one, and should know best whether I do not merit a
 place among this honorable company. "
 
 "Nay, nay," he answered; "ye must not bide for me, for where I go I
 stay. "You've been so kind to us, sir, that I should like to do the best I
 can for you in return. The woman looked at him intently, and ground her
 heel into his upturned face. As to the feuds of the two
 learned men, they are continuous and bitter. "
 
 
 Holmes smiled at the astonishment of Hopkins, which must have been
 reflected upon my features. There are evidently only two of them
 in it. They
 shower down arrows, darts and great stones. But there was no sound save the
 howling of the wind, and no movement but the swaying branches above
 them. "
 
 "Thank you," said Holmes. A quarter of an hour's drive brought
 us to Mrs. Gregson of Scotland Yard. "I think we have done
 all that can be done," he answered; "it's a queer case though, and I
 knew your taste for such things. The man has been branded at some time as
 they brand cattle. " He
 passed his hand over his forehead like a man who is half dazed, and then
 fell rather than sat down upon a chair. It is quite clear that the colonel was 
a cool and
 desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should
 stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out
 pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. He, however, blinking
 with puckered eyes, reached up his kerchief, and flicked the beast twice
 across the snout with it. "Ah, saucy! saucy," quoth he, with gentle
 chiding; on which the bear, uncertain and puzzled, dropped its four legs
 to earth again, and, waddling back, was soon swathed in ropes by the
 bear-ward and a crowd of peasants who had been in close pursuit. And with an 
apology he
 followed the Inspector outside. ADVENTURE II. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS
 
 When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes
 cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which
 present strange and interesting features that it is no easy
 matter to know which to choose and which to leave. THIS is not the place to 
commemorate the trials and privations endured
 by the immigrant Mormons before they came to their final haven. From the
 shores of the Mississippi to the western slopes of the Rocky Mountains
 they had struggled on with a constancy almost unparalleled in history. "
 
 "But how could you guess what the motive was?"
 
 "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a
 mere vulgar intrigue. "
 
 "It was clamped to the floor. Not a word would our captive say, but he glared 
at us
 from the shadow of his matted hair, and once, when my hand seemed within
 his reach, he snapped at it like a hungry wolf. I am convinced that these
 marks were left by the man who rifled the papers. "
 
 "And how have you succeeded?"
 
 "Well. "I will tell you
 it just as it happened, sir," said he. One has to be
 discreet when one talks of high matters of state. There was the point
 from which all my adventures started. I think we might drive round to the
 offices of the Daily Telegraph, and so bring a good day's work to a
 conclusion. It was to set her up in a typewriting
 business. But here are
 our comrades, Sir Nigel, and here is our camp. Who is this travel-stained youth
 who dares to ride so madly through the lines of staring burghers? Why
 does he fling himself from his horse and stare so strangely about
 him? See how he has rushed through the incense-bearers, thrust aside
 lay-sister Agatha, scattered the two-and-twenty damosels who sang so
 sweetly--and he stands before the novice with his hands out-stretched,
 and his face shining, and the light of love in his gray eyes. "
 
 "Lord Holdhurst!"
 
 "Well, it is just conceivable that a statesman might find himself in
 a position where he was not sorry to have such a document accidentally
 destroyed. "
 
 "By a singular and happy chance, we are able to some extent to check
 what passed along this road during the night in question. Holmes, but when I 
thought of all the
 precaution I had taken to shield this girl--for I loved her, Mr. "
 
 "For example?"
 
 "I find that before the terrible event occurred several people had seen
 a creature upon the moor which corresponds with this Baskerville demon,
 and which could not possibly be any animal known to science. It was a 
remarkable face, bold gray eyes, a
 strong, short-clipped, grizzled moustache, a square, projecting chin,
 and a humorous mouth. Probably he acted as I suggest. It must have lasted for 
some time, for it was then that
 these cigars were smoked. In spite of its youth, it has
 already a sinister history. In the jungle I crept forward, stopping with a
 beating heart whenever I heard, as I often did, the crash of breaking
 branches as some wild beast went past. I say normal cases, because ill-health
 and physical weakness reproduce the signs of old age, even when the
 invalid is a youth. " He raised a glass with which he had
 been served to his lips and elevated his little finger as he drank it. "Put 
into plain words, the matter is this," said he. When the fellow comes speak to 
him in an ordinary
 way. "When I came to examine the address of the packet I observed that it
 was to Miss S. "I don't go," said Austin. Have you managed to find the
 Secretary, Mr. "
 
 "Excellent. Laura Lyons may do for us when the
 position of affairs is made clear to her. "
 
 "Well done! Our researches have evidently been running on parallel
 lines, and when we unite our results I expect we shall have a fairly
 full knowledge of the case. Holmes read it and was about to place it in his 
notebook
 when he caught a glimpse of my expectant face. The letter--for it
 was a letter from a foreign potentate--was received six days ago. The 
nurse-girl slapped one of her charges
 and then began to push the perambulator up the hill. The window, I may add, 
was not large enough for a man
 to get through. Ill armed and half starved, they were still desperate men, to 
whom
 danger had lost all fears: for what was death that they should shun
 it to cling to such a life as theirs? The castle was theirs, and the
 roaring flames were spurting through the windows and flickering high
 above the turrets on two sides of the quadrangle. From either side they
 were sweeping down from room to room and from bastion to bastion in the
 direction of the keep. Gradually, as time passed, his fears
 appeared to die away, and he had renewed his former habits, when a fresh
 event reduced him to the pitiable state of prostration in which he now
 lies. "What happened was this. "Well, it's at the bottom of this oxygen 
business, or I am mistaken,"
 said I. "A good cyclist does not need a
 high road. "
 
 "Not only a fellow-countryman, my good sir," said Challenger, "but
 also, if I may be allowed to enlarge your simile, an ally of the first
 value. "I can see the pennons of De Couvette, De Brieux, Saint Pol, and many
 others who struck in against us for Charles of Blois. "
 
 "You can't help me. For the rest, there is nothing which a sponge may not 
cure. At last I
 determined to see them before I died. For a moment I thought that I had thrown
 him off. His hands were raised, and he seemed
 to be settling his necktie. The tall man leaned heavily upon her to take the 
weight off his tender
 foot, while he held his burden betwixt himself and the wall, cuddling it
 jealously to his side, and thrusting forward his young companion to act
 as a buttress whenever the pressure of the crowd threatened to bear him
 away. "
 
 "I should have thought that even a limited knowledge of comparative
 anatomy would have helped to verify it," said Summerlee, bitterly. They are
 all people who are in trouble about something, and want a little
 enlightening. One
 would imagine that such a match would be very welcome to Stapleton, and
 yet I have more than once caught a look of the strongest disapprobation
 in his face when Sir Henry has been paying some attention to his sister. Did
 anyone call to see the boy on the day before he disappeared?"
 
 "No. But my own views are different. "Here is the foresight," said he putting
 his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. You may possibly 
have heard
 my name from our mutual friend, Mortimer. "
 
 "This sounds well. "
 
 "Have you any reason to suspect robbery?"
 
 "No, sir. The inspector looked honestly interested. Mortimer, the gardener, 
who wheels the Bath chair, is an army
 pensioner--an old Crimean man of excellent character. There is this 
naturalist, Stapleton,
 and there is his sister, who is said to be a young lady of attractions. I had 
at that time just entered the
 family of Mrs. "It don't much matter to you why I hated these men," he said; 
"it's
 enough that they were guilty of the death of two human beings--a father
 and a daughter--and that they had, therefore, forfeited their own
 lives. "
 
 "Well, we will not detain you any longer, and we are sorry to have put
 you to this trouble at such a time," said the inspector. "Well, well, give him 
that message. I had lost my hold
 on Black Peter and was stranded in London without a shilling. Even now I
 see what you have done, but I don't know how you did it or what it
 signifies. "He will come to anon," said the knight, stooping over him and 
passing
 his fingers through his hair. His room was on the second floor and was 
approached through
 another larger room, in which two boys were sleeping. Holmes disregarded the 
outstretched hand and looked at him
 with a face of granite. By it he laid the box of matches and the
 stump of a candle. Alleyne stood still in the roadway for a few minutes 
reflecting
 upon what he should do. But when it came to almagest and astrolabe, the 
counting of
 figures and reckoning of epicycles, away would go her thoughts to horse
 and hound, and a vacant eye and listless face would warn the teacher
 that he had lost his hold upon his scholar. Solemnity and humility are at the 
base of all our emotions
 to-day. May they be the foundations upon which a more earnest and
 reverent race may build a more worthy temple. Hence the cocaine. What Alleyne 
saw and wondered at in Hampshire
 would have appealed equally to the traveller in any other English county
 from the Channel to the marches of Scotland. That the writer was on board of a 
ship. You are in safe hands. Having done this, you
 must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Afterwards he read 
the Daily Herald. He would naturally use the first words which came to his 
mind, and
 if there were so many which referred to sport among them, you may
 be tolerably sure that he is either an ardent shot or interested in
 breeding. "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. "Five years altogether. "
 
 "He was a bachelor, you say?"
 
 "A widower. Takes you as cramp, I fancy. "
 
 "Yes, yes; it is cramp. Joseph Harrison drove us down to the station, and we 
were soon
 whirling up in a Portsmouth train. "Ah, yes, of course. The medical evidence 
showed conclusively
 that death was due to apoplexy. Holmes seemed to
 know the grounds perfectly, and he threaded his way swiftly among
 a plantation of small trees, I close at his heels, and our foremost
 pursuer panting behind us. I have several fresh dancing-men pictures for
 you to examine, and, what is more important, I have seen the fellow. There is 
no particular reason
 for keeping a watch upon that book. '
 
 "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. Where are you from?'
 
 "'Then I shall never see her. "Here it is, Mr. Suddenly, however, a flash
 of intelligence had come over his sodden features, and he rose and
 staggered for the door. The Frenchman, whirling up his sword, showed for an 
instant
 a chink betwixt his shoulder piece and the rerebrace which guarded his
 upper arm. " He walked to the French window and threw
 it open. But I have occasionally done the same
 thing at other times. "Lewes is ablaze!"
 
 "No, it is Brighton which is burning," said Challenger, stepping across
 to join us. "You can see the curved back of the downs against the glow. "
 
 "My dear fellow! I congrat----"
 
 "To Milverton's housemaid. "I am sure, sir, it was only my practical joke. "
 
 "The killing of Mortimer Tregennis," said Holmes. His pension was due. Mr. 
Hilton Cubitt had been shot through the heart. Here are the symbols. "
 
 As he spoke the attendant cantered up the grassy enclosure, and pulling
 up his steed in front of the royal stand, blew a second fanfare upon
 his bugle. "We doubt not, with the help of God, to see you very soon restored
 to those thrones from which you have been so traitorously thrust. "Our rate at 
present is fifty-three and a half miles an hour. "The case certainly presents
 more features of interest and more possibility of development than I had
 originally thought. Surely it is better for you to take the substantial sum 
which I offer
 than to ruin this woman's career, which can profit you in no way?"
 
 "There you make a mistake, Mr. I kept the road
 as long as his eye was on me, and then I struck off across the moor and
 made for the stony hill over which the boy had disappeared. "
 
 "Yes?"
 
 "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. Yet the fact remains that the 
reader, who was a fine,
 robust old man, was knocked clean down by it as if it had been the butt
 end of a pistol. The teachings of twenty years cried out against such license. 
Only Cecil Barker seemed to be master of himself and his emotions;
 he had opened the door which was nearest to the entrance and he had
 beckoned to the sergeant to follow him. "
 
 "Forget what?"
 
 "Well, about Victor Savage's death. Then he took out the key, which was on the 
inside, and
 inspected that also. I've been making a few
 independent inquiries, you see. " He chuckled with glee at the prospect. "
 
 "And you, Summerlee?"
 
 "We seem to be drifting very far from the object of this expedition,
 Lord John. Simon glanced over it. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for
 the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away
 these bleak autumnal evenings. "
 
 "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine,
 Mr. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her
 sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery. We have all faced 
death together before
 now. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in
 some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. You carve too?"
 
 The youth's pale face flushed with the pride of the skilled workman. I saw the 
man, too, in the gloom. He caught me first by the wrist and then
 by the throat. Never for an instant did we suspect
 that he had the whole secret hidden in his own breast,--that of all men
 he alone knew the fate of Arthur Morstan. Here came the merchandise of all the 
fair countries
 which are watered by the Garonne and the Dordogne--the cloths of the
 south, the skins of Guienne, the wines of the Medoc--to be borne away to
 Hull, Exeter, Dartmouth, Bristol or Chester, in exchange for the wools
 and woolfels of England. Henceforward events were
 too swift and too poignant to allow me to write, but they are too clearly
 outlined in my memory that any detail could escape me. Some chokiness in my 
throat made me look at the oxygen cylinders, and I
 was startled at what I saw. As a matter of fact, burglars who have done a good 
stroke of business
 are, as a rule, only too glad to enjoy the proceeds in peace and quiet
 without embarking on another perilous undertaking. "
 
 There was silence in the room. Three undetected murders in
 one year won't do, Lestrade. Strange that now in its old age this dark 
business should have
 cast its shadow upon the venerable walls! And yet those strange, peaked
 roofs and quaint, overhung gables were a fitting covering to grim and
 terrible intrigue. We had traversed Streatham, Brixton, Camberwell, and now 
found
 ourselves in Kennington Lane, having borne away through the
 side-streets to the east of the Oval. The wagonette was paid off and ordered 
to return to Coombe
 Tracey forthwith, while we started to walk to Merripit House. "Ride by my 
side, friends, I entreat of you," said the knight, reining
 in his steed that they might come abreast of him. "For, since it hath
 pleased you to follow me to the wars, it were well that you should know
 how you may best serve me. "
 
 "By St. "
 
 "A roaring, raging bully!"
 
 "That's done it!  Stool of penance!" said he. "
 
 "And he was well dressed?"
 
 "Very smartly dressed, sir--quite the gentleman. "
 
 "But I understand that there was a considerable wound. When you spoke last 
night of taking precautions I remember
 that it passed through my mind that this was probably the last parish
 in England to which the thief or thieves would be likely to turn their
 attention--which shows that I have still much to learn. A good shoot for you 
also, John! The villain hath
 fallen forward into the fire. A white surcoat with the lion
 of St. The sound of carriage wheels caused
 him to rise and glance out of the window. The deep shout of Du Guesclin, the 
hard,
 hissing breath of the pressing multitude, the clatter of steel, the
 thud of falling bodies, and the screams of the stricken, made up such
 a medley as came often in after years to break upon Alleyne's sleep. "Now, let 
us calmly define our position, Watson," he continued as we
 skirted the cliffs together. We ain't nervous folk, as you know well; but when
 it comes to makin' a week-end visit and finding you've run full butt into
 the Day of Judgment, it wants a bit of explainin'. '
 
 "'If there were only one,' he said. " There is the first
 volume of it in that press. The Abbot stood by the narrow window, and his long 
black shadow fell
 slantwise across the rush-strewn floor. Only above the eyebrows, where the 
sloping
 forehead and low, curved skull of the ape-man were in sharp contrast to
 the broad brow and magnificent cranium of the European, could one see
 any marked difference. At that moment there arrived
 Dr. It was impossible to mistake the scene of the young
 lady's adventure, for the road runs between the open heath on one side
 and an old yew hedge upon the other, surrounding a park which is studded
 with magnificent trees. The eyes, which were under thick and heavy
 brows, were bestial and ferocious, and as it opened its mouth to snarl
 what sounded like a curse at me I observed that it had curved, sharp
 canine teeth. To-day I was
 not alarmed, but I was filled with curiosity, and I determined to find
 out who he was and what he wanted. I slowed down my machine, but he
 slowed down his. Have you been able to trace any connection
 between the missing boy and this German master?"
 
 "None at all. How now, coz, have I touched
 thee on the raw?"
 
 Alleyne sat between them munching his bread, while the twain disputed
 across his knees, leaning forward with flushed faces and darting
 hands, in all the heat of argument. "By Gar!" he cried, "I've got him. "The 
windows
 are all lighting up, and you'll have the whole town here inside of five
 minutes. Now we may use the eyes which God hath
 given us. 'See that the boy
 has this to-night, and you shall have the prettiest frock that money can
 buy. '
 
 "She was frightened by the earnestness of his manner, and ran past him
 to the window through which she was accustomed to hand the meals. "'This is a 
directory of Paris,' said he, 'with the trades after the
 names of the people. I want you to take it home with you, and to mark
 off all the hardware sellers, with their addresses. With this object I engaged
 an agent from a private detective firm, who entered my husband's house
 as a secretary--it was your second secretary, Sergius, the one who left
 you so hurriedly. As it was, we very nearly
 lost it at the last moment. Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great 
kindness to
 recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend
 Dr. A man
 can tell easily enough when a woman loves him. "Excuse me, sir," said he, "but 
am I addressing Dr. Every instinct that I possess
 cries out against it. When I saw how many were waiting, I
 would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear
 of it. There were one hundred and
 forty-three diamonds of the first water, including one which has been
 called, I believe, 'the Great Mogul' and is said to be the second
 largest stone in existence. I rode back, but again saw
 nothing of the carriage, and now, as you perceive, it has returned after
 me. "
 
 "I heard it distinctly, and I am sure that it was really the sob of a
 woman. It was the sides which were black. Turning round we saw a
 little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of
 yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while
 Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was
 shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. I stood at the centre door 
with my eyes glancing
 at each of the others, ready for any emergency, though, indeed, my plans
 were somewhat vague as to what I should do if we were interrupted. I know that 
everything was turning round, and the
 words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my
 ear. It struck me that the
 whole proceeding could hardly be for the purpose of making a fool of
 me, and that the main object must be to get out of the rent. "
 
 "When did you find it out?"
 
 "He has a cup of tea taken in to him early every morning. He
 was a small, stout man with a red face and a peppery manner. However, we may 
as well go and have a look. Well, about six
 weeks ago she came to me. .