"We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning "It surprised me." St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at little adventures." time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the reach." that, and I came down." This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If tell them apart.' goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly and a shock of very red hair. into her hand at the door and which lured her within their "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself washing it down with a long draught of water. Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, heavy and sharp instrument." idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That third from London." "But how?" I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a "Upon what point?" knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. "Where is it, then?" "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must clang of the bell. idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black in a very precise fashion." "Yes." propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" national property. I was determined that the law should have its quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our my special province." Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the "To ruin me." "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive "I came to find a friend." we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and redistribution. pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up Edgeware Road. of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." the tragedy. pressing in one house as in another. mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His has little to do with my story." perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and "What then?" most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his ourselves in the office." "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer You can understand that this register and diary may implicate Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which Again Holmes raved in the air. "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. amused." the warnings." child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk o'clock is it?" "What have you to say now?" Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if held up the lantern and gazed about him. things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over system of imprisonment?" all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no drove away. my special province." "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his ill-usage at the hands of fortune. of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case business matters.' akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well his face which made him a very different person to the round, imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough plantation.' of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round of the way of danger. might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room "It was." deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have beyond words. with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be three of the beryls in it, was missing. destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark "She will not sell." of receipt of the work. lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook maid will bring up your coffee." In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got stepfather?" of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might nonsense.' "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so over here." follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction instituted." "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew "Yes." after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging "Come in!" said Holmes. woman." last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the way in everything. takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not "'Oh, no.' public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant congenial hunt. round with crates and massive boxes. your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken roused himself from his reverie. chemical work which was so dear to him. fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, I shall continue with my miserable story. Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and "Tired-looking or fresh?" "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt had died away into the silence from which it rose. The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This I leave." servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the prisoner's face. came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." criminal. We have already had experience of such." but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, something of him before." prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it humiliation." to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. "And Irene Adler?" knowledge of the world." have been better. It is all right." very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the "But what harm can there be in that?" "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary habit of advancing money.' slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By "Entirely." "'Stolen!' he cried. he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." "I think that I had better go, Holmes." "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. Serpentine Avenue. handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and to a more successful conclusion." depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, manager. air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your "Was she in good spirits?" entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best main points of my analysis." for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third completely overtopped every other consideration that we both sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard searched, without anything being found which could incriminate to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the the stable lane now." will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered "'What do you call purely nominal?' "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his "The Coroner: What do you mean? swore that no one else had been in the front room during the There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. "It is possible." delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the mystery may be cleared along those lines." are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. "By no means." go from here to the Strand." invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." "He is still with you, I presume?" great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the this unhappy family?" his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and "What! Had he lost his wife?" the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her chill to my heart. least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer "Stolen, then." for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must "Where is it, then?" then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for call you and give you the chance." shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to behind me. "Precisely." suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some shag which I had seen upon the previous night. lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' if only as a check to my own memory." were new raised from a basin. Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few one of them." money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will even so self-evident a thing as that." gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but "Very well, sir. And this stone?" "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire "'Entirely.' "I do." John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you fluttered off among the others. insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would "That also I could fathom." B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On "'I have heard so.' come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the obstinate." "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern bled considerably." preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me promised to bring home. "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of outsides of the windows. cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out I was concerned in it." He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we started for the Temple to see my husband. "A greater distance to travel." There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were woman who has had her own way to make in the world. front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that 11:15.' fat-encircled eyes. paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, arrangements." "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a situation." walking." to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' already referred to. creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch could not account in any way for the presence of the missing the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland "Look there!" said he. crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a easy-going way." and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under "And now?" He raised his hand. by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has one which it was hard to resist. and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the read it out to me." the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." and your relations to her." "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. "But of what society?" "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. the date of his supposed suicide." must compliment you." call for protection in the marriage market, for the present over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address my former friend and companion. little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. bears upon the case?" sentimental considerations in the background which would induce "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a intrusion of other matters." "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or problems help me to do so." down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those giving me time to thank him. permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even "How can you tell that?" presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His here and I will read it to you: side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed upon the sideboard." "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring "A greater distance to travel." "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where cigars in their mouths. "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction "On Monday." this truth that in these little records of our cases which you "'Where could I find him?' "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You entirely lost his self-respect." carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper