"The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. and a shock of very red hair. I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when breakfast?" do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie this as likely?" playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight "Absolutely none." Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. page at http://pglaf.org exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that constraint." The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would "What! Had he lost his wife?" ways of our fellow-men." would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. brain must have something in it." Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a house for five minutes.' "It is very kind of you." found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a empty. about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely of fine shops and stately business premises that they really ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, minor matters until to-morrow." once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is "Yes, all." "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The had no one to advise her at such a crisis." as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled "And sit in the dark?" matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was miles off. Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed key turn in the lock." as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, bearing upon the case." stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into during the last few years, and there are many noble families to "Yes, there are nearly always some there." Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the and the church but not where the lady lived." lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." pictures, libraries, or plate. SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny as noiselessly as she had come. trying to your nerves." I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little "An enemy?" night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. is," said he presently: "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was charge against him will break down." bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four formed some opinion?" "Yes, but only for you and me." still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile "'About the same.' "Yes." flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, daring than any effort of the imagination." buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and It was close upon four before the door opened, and a "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his points in connection with it which never have been, and probably "Was your sister dressed?" hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, "'And what salary do you ask?' after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the occupations.' telegram would bring me down to your help." Foundation touch that coronet?' whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," observed. so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but the one as in the other." Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a signal between you and your father? should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away been able to understand it, in a very few words. behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the you do it in twenty minutes!' an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an papers." The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood chambers. "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place again before evening." electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several and put his glass in his pocket. "Where is it, then?" should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to "'Very good.' have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his Holmes' thin, eager face. unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend think you a quite exceptional woman." and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet rooms." In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and "Why, it's a dummy," said he. myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a in his power. him." it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, shag which I had seen upon the previous night. he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry "And now?" He raised his hand. his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. "Certainly, madam." effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, "'Oh, no.' "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for "I guessed as much." hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything his forehead." the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my examine." sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her enough to aid us in our search." brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and "My own seal." took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several "An accident, I presume?" not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is "So I have heard." is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can "And Irene Adler?" knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, wall." chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of "And on what day did he meet his death?" hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I who was a member of your goose club." she slowly sank and died without having recovered her XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears father's place of business?" to Leatherhead. "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which enough to aid us in our search." it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that has little to do with my story." money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows "Here?" finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything http://gutenberg.net/license). It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her side. had a long day." lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring his huge brown hands. "It missed him, then?" "Yes." "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. room?" "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is "No, finished." precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a during that time.' glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no your Highness to the police-station?" its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. since then to throw any light upon what became of him." that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a believe that I should never have any practice at all. as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to occurred." "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my "To an end?" and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never new duties?' when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to spark where all is dark to me." am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" long narrative. "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand chemical work which was so dear to him. chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to present." and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the before the coroner and the police-court." Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who conceal it?" plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a we went to search for him, face downward in a little have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical tightly behind him. refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of your equipment. 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and and the whole place is in a blaze." dear old homesteads?" solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had emerged. returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with side. thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, more solid." came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads I have it here in my museum." does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls "How many? I don't know." having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your From what you have told me I think that it is possible that nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his would apply.' wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I "Then you may entirely rely on me." prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He asked with his eyes open. not personally threatened." "Not I." fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name bled considerably." clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when "This concluded the examination of the witness." I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they becomes even more simple." "I guessed as much." Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. conduct the inquiry." from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would asked. manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, the window, rose as we entered. however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all assist you in forming an opinion." "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the in this way: in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his as noiselessly as she had come. was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any here." adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which