national property. I was determined that the law should have its across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps to tell." 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of in a friendly supper." was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do behind me. "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' to-night's adventure." up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to "I am all attention, madam." woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the "Where, then, is my wife?" were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate me have 200 pounds?' and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with are, I think, all that we need." when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps "Pray continue your narrative." what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he "'How far from the body?' "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the later, upon the night of May 2nd." indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of if only as a check to my own memory." St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." you do it in twenty minutes!' how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had straighten it?" terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved "Yes, but only for you and me." "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while "I say that I have solved it." learned something! Where are the gems?" with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, success. "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against Pope's Court, Fleet Street." "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, in his hands." Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the "You did not overhear what they said?" adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must that the gas is not laid on in his house?" the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a obstinate." Leave Paddington by the 11:15." there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a or in danger--" very peculiar words of the dying woman?" me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and "The knees of his trousers." read over the extraordinary announcement. heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between someone who had been in Australia." Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my "'About the same.' the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able Henry Baker is a member." hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, carried out of court." pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to "An accident, I presume?" "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to appeal." this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." "I am sure." after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to there when the Rucastles went away." sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted mystery." his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, "Look there!" said he. unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our without a word or a look. of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a particular state visit http://pglaf.org the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was "Yes?" stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, was a lad." point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, which are rolled in Rotterdam." that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and exactly what you advise." A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our papers must be those that are destroyed.' waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me into the bag, and made for the door. "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most relation between them, and what the object of his repeated lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon the stones. society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. to take care of herself." least a most suspicious remark." Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences situation." over with notes and figures. "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his your most interesting statement." "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of go back?" time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were you in yours." the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood "'Yes, sir.' believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." least a most suspicious remark." "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account interest. They are important, you understand, without being my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a once more on the important position which you have been fortunate "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very asked. occupations.' man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. opened the door, and slipped through. woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it "Here?" "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can "I guessed as much." Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum key of the affair now." "He disappeared so suddenly." swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side danger is over." as the one I chose?' view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 "And you thought he was pulled back?" You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the the morning and make my own way in the world.' "I will try. What is it?" she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so "I don't believe it." "Where did he live, then?" me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found business?" as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working miles off. "Pray do so." Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ least a most suspicious remark." which was all perfectly true. accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. leaning back in his chair. loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said searched, without anything being found which could incriminate even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special "But to whom?" "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you been." Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the what these perils are?" "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. "No, I had a dozen." rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his past. "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons troubles have been weighing upon his mind. "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George "My photograph." coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? "And Miss Sutherland?" From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the "And what then?" centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the you found me to-night--and running through the front room she "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that and looked back. 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. brought there to personate someone, and the real person is finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, she slowly sank and died without having recovered her can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads "And Miss Sutherland?" will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, once more. "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive "Yes, certainly." adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and taking in every detail of the apartment. "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I The summons was a brief and urgent one. "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, Arthur Conan Doyle was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be will he say when he returns?" "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near might have a private word with us. year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. But Holmes shook his head gravely. But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those Young McCarthy must be got off, however." Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband fatally injured? a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same what do you think they found in the pockets?" asked. very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It "How did you trace it, then?" of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an "Yes, from Horsham." "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be colonel looking down at me. both be extremely obliged.' somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, http://gutenberg.net/license). clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the coat-tails." cigars in the box." homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the call you and give you the chance." Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the all-comprehensive glances. room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a "It may not come to that," said Holmes. slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, most interesting one." placed his cuttings. your co-operation." will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to vague figure huddled up in the darkness. "One of the highest in England." "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this "No." "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove chill to my heart. "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to intrusion of other matters." Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of to surprise her." "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness "It is possible." "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. bears upon the case?" consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter "Then, how do you know?" seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or "I was mad--insane." back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed over with notes and figures. "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. outside." "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face murdered man." congenial hunt. you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and "It is possible." "And how in the world did you find them?" are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to "I have my revolver," said I. same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering "Thank you. And your address?" round and wave him away like that.' fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of "Come in!" said Holmes. seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will Munro.' ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had fasten all the windows?" think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper strength." "Has he come with you to-night?" about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant and that he would see to anything that turned up. keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband imbecility!" he cried. was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in "'What, the red-headed man?' and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I "Was she in good spirits?" squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let occupations.' all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know the King without delay." Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her "Pray do so." wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then "'Oh, no.' almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in me have 200 pounds?' not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and morning." "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." "Who was the criminal, then?" twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple "You know me, then?" actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make girl said." succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same "Which are?" seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand 'I should be able to look after that for you.' 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple article?" "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the III. paper in the air. "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. stammered. "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared "I am all attention, madam."