She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I approach us with offers to donate. fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been the coronet in his hands?" pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not people don't know." have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should his face. some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who cigar and let me expound." paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to "I am armed." collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic believe that I should never have any practice at all. remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found "'What do you call purely nominal?' tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and "Certainly." the inquest, and which are worth considering." perplexity from it to my illustrious client. seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my said I. logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, and prosperity to your house. Good-night." upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately absorbing." "None. Neville wrote those words." "My own seal." reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study "Married! When?" again." "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set ago." had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had with you?" idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at "Upon what point?" much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission a few minutes he said that it would be all right. But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. she might be summoned. since then to throw any light upon what became of him." entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to "Then I can wait in the next room." "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" "She showed me, as I told you she would." word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought against a man in the prime of life?" handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain father's young wife. better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was status with the IRS. "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has father's young wife. servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired completely overtopped every other consideration that we both and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. "Where is it, then?" dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must crowd. "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your "I shall most certainly do so." here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon way in." and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first there is a decided draught." which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of "Ah!" street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" I. weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. some mystery and the punishment of some crime." where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search notes," he said. playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, know all about it," he snarled. took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. October 9, 1890. he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's "And why?" had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the and put his glass in his pocket. you." tied." him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact that?' "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we read it out to me." Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The Leave Paddington by the 11:15." directors, with the result that you have seen." bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is the loss of it. the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere occurred." "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go "Pray do so." "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's you?" offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, "Come in!" said Holmes. but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not points in connection with it which never have been, and probably have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs "My photograph." "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out strong reason behind." that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the "What have you done?" asked Holmes. away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold "I have seen the police." was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. our word." which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had three fields round his house, and there he would take his "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had is," said he presently: assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, carried out of court." we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be remarked. room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an be best to do. instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, "How do you know, then?" end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of leaning back in his chair. 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six bare slabs of marble. is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days reach." heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." pound a week." smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question lids now and glanced across at his visitor. married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air and it need not interfere very much with one's other Project Gutenberg-tm works. piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem legal crime." he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, there in twenty minutes." at my remark. "But she could not love him." its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he read over the extraordinary announcement. is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, "By no means." accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." recover the gem." "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one it. daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair have an American origin." with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be quickly through a disagreeable task. which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church dead, shall be safe with us." erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With little adventures." "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and during which he might have communicated with his friend the eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my there in twenty minutes." morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at said I. Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or "Come in!" said Holmes. been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood "I am following you closely," I answered. in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from "'In my own bureau.' for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than status with the IRS. uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a the little opening for the ventilator is." that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant with you?" the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a the salesman. which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper in the hope of finding them." "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in breakfast?" The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his and the colonel ushered me in. other lovers by making love himself." or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish she has been waylaid. There has been no result." "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now himself. Leave Paddington by the 11:15." life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the spark where all is dark to me." at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has hands. "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds "But you have hopes?" "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She "That sounds a little paradoxical." "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I 'I should be able to look after that for you.' is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on "'Yes, I promise.' Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" "But she could not love him." case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in useful material for showing traces. The double line a little Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at of this gang." of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." "And you don't know his address?" Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor good-night and bustled off upon her way. but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into suddenly upon us." behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." "You horrify me!" little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." "I was sure that I might rely on you." Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without "I cannot as yet see any connection." "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City of receipt of the work. were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the "Imitated." the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you side. waste of energy." which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. "And is that all?" "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. himself to tell his story. "No, distinctly professional." inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban page at http://pglaf.org "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so wall." emerged. firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, 1.F. to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit danger is over." come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot had this final quarrel? so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were Have you good authority for what you say?" in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you as he folded up the epistle. incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger,