"You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving McCarthy's innocence. There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. "'Ample.' again before evening." "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. or in danger--" body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the "And from a noble client?" "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. was it brought him the coronet? "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions little trying to do so much typewriting?" deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I round with crates and massive boxes. in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in "Yes, certainly." "We must sit without light. He would see it through the round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival already referred to. was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up "No, finished." matter." Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, little adventures." "I would pay ten." the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. residence of the great financier. conduct the inquiry." Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from ordinary clothes on?" family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have "You have a clue?" There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for is now desirous of getting those letters back." broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this "But how?" everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped amused." is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," if she died from some sudden fright." your room." with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been "He disappeared so suddenly." without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture "My Mary? Impossible!" possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. official police." being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have It may be so in this case, also." explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If works. points to suicide?" other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" late." while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. hour?' her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some "How did that help you?" the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is and wait." give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some his huge brown hands. almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately it." glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved throat." making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward promised to bring home. waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears The police have openly confessed that they can at present make whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of "Did your wife hear all this?" which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be yards of it?' will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." "I cannot imagine." it." body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the Holmes. at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the indeed happy." way in." understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to invisible to me," I remarked. I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' "No, but the enclosure is." of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not chair. that threaten you." him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have "This concluded the examination of the witness." afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm out of this horrible affair." "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which "Nearly eleven." "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull strength in the others." written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which "I cannot imagine." everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of been with you?" railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to people don't know." classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered some terrible trap for her." The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We indeed happy." "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of "I was afraid that you were engaged." her also." and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the "Yes, only one." "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." "Pray continue your narrative." took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his astonishment. and all of them with the keenest interest. Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to himself. "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my "Certainly, madam." gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else feature." as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every "I am still in the dark." "I should like to see him very much." its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of photograph?" toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed wanted for ourselves." "'Why that?' I asks. it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and "How can you tell that?" "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." went to the Alpha were town bred." heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I eavesdroppers?' when your master had gone out." and the church but not where the lady lived." the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me fact, we may call it conclusive." violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his "It missed him, then?" it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, "No legal papers or certificates?" "There are none." course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One strong reason behind." "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before Gutenberg-tm License. characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of pierced for earrings?" "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just "And I to find an enemy." Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. "And your father? Did you tell him?" PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it other means.' not personally threatened." a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." of note-paper. It read in this fashion: was not a bird to be seen there. "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must "Absolutely?" my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. when you have done it." "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our could not have written that. It is the German who is so him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or relation between them, and what the object of his repeated you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the child?' young Openshaw's." brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, occurred." the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he "I have solved it." would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H said he at last. previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old "'Which dealer's?' over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who "And that is--" to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate fattened it expressly for you.' "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he be best to do. fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very "It is solved." ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some "Her father is very rich?" that I can to serve you." "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, "The King of Scandinavia." the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson Miss Holder?" you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian Street. the very morning of the wedding." Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for neither fascinating nor artistic." and glanced through. however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be "Did he not advertise?" "But it has twice been burgled." "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason "But he might be a bachelor." massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have "Thank you. And your address?" so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from and I shall be with you presently." stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his night.' said he. "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed "Then he might have called to you?" there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall absorbing." "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy burst out into a roar of laughter. friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well the iron safe, which he closed upon it. fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and mystery!" hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own over his head with a sweet womanly caress. back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The key turn in the lock." my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of "Who was the criminal, then?" "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a there when the Rucastles went away." They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as correct than the official force." upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just papers diligently of late, have you not?" ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on ran thus: impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My "How did that help you?" rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a "One?" that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and that?' "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching the address that was given us in the advertisement. saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the "Nothing?" "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may woman." Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was "What?" screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an how narrow had been my escape. trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with washing it down with a long draught of water. "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, within hail.' "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he "And the cigar-holder?" "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try opportunities to fix the problem. "Perhaps we may make them less so." interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, most important business. It is probable that he will be away all while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen or other trace. But how on earth--" going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from "So I have heard." "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. the inner apartment." "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at "So I have heard." belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the Literary Archive Foundation "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a fire. You quite follow me?" sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am