There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read once more to my work. absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking any more." the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but said I. held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I swore that no one else had been in the front room during the "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ look upon these things in a different way." dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the until night should bring an explanation. process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step affection." fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I "Whose house is it?" door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an the bottom.' "'Certainly not. But why?' his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its locked." fire. You quite follow me?" "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing name is different." fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several was a perfect sample of the class. friends, not even his own brother. invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, the inner apartment." "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations me what he had done with the three missing stones. my little problems." call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six green of the new foliage. appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope bonnet, and went out." across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press "What will you say?" here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all "I cannot tell." fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him "I guessed as much." across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. in this way: we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. Lee, in the county of Kent." three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the "No good news?" spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in you?' his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, the stable lane now." "The knees of his trousers." "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not "His face fell immediately. call you and give you the chance." guilty parties." web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put "I see no marks." delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among Clair, of Lee." tail." As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and emerged. inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom joking. Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." in the dead of the night?' "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great "I cannot tell." He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual less than 26s. 4d. "How many? I don't know." "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads lumber-room." III. just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the bird I ate is country bred." "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind "And how did you find out?" she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, "What steps will you take?" I asked. kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. room had already been engaged for us. I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. writers could invent nothing more crude." "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. then?" "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be "In San Francisco, a year ago." jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. the devil!" cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. Sutherland?" together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their "'Ample.' finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' the address that was given us in the advertisement. be there in time for your coming." "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I even so self-evident a thing as that." will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold cup of tea. against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless the salesman. conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the emerged. yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. of Mr. Rucastle's." Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive the general public were present, then?" exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed "And how in the world did you find them?" her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, "Yes, they were peculiar boots." Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third she used." burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." "You are hungry," I remarked. seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He "The murder was done with it." and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might be sorry for having acted so harshly." glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the stammered. with the outside air!" "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do of campaign. you." THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most suspect him." the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some "Why, it's a dummy," said he. "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining the ceiling. of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the my little problems." strength." "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A is so. I know all about McCarthy." office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of Edgeware Road. were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the something of him before." might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his "Certainly, madam." The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son some city in a dream. I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, some place of shelter and let the county police know what has I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point distinguish the words: Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in nonsense.' "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the situation." zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." indeed which he could not unravel. He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will could not account in any way for the presence of the missing to you." figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just "Holmes, the busybody!" from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I been anything against him. He had for years been known as a you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon Pope's Court. James Windibank. Voilà tout!" chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize returned to France?" freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here opportunities to fix the problem. job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! read it out to me." several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." I. We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, his face which made him a very different person to the round, and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" with her." the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the unkempt, staring out at me. "Really! You surprise me." tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do "She showed me, as I told you she would." When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with test if we have an answer to our advertisement." meant." these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was "But you can know nothing of this?" that he has suffered." to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, friends, not even his own brother. a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very "'Very good.' however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a matters immensely." uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you have got?" "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile handed it to him. "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have man. takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" have an American origin." pity, because in other respects you would really have done very my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his character. said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by "I think it very unlikely." "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the your troubles." It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be closing the door. here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" ourselves in the office." an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open geese which you supplied to the Alpha." the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in "I have seen the police." "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to "Well, some hundreds of times." the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a since then to throw any light upon what became of him." "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. a little more before I quite committed myself. "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard jewels which you have stolen?' Count Von Kramm." unprofitable." be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs on re-entering her father's house?" which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, "I would pay ten." expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." companion. "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a