fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a forebodings. across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" "Because he was handy and would come cheap." This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather "I am still in the dark." weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the "'Yes, sir.' Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned "But how did you gain them?" "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just "No bad?" it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to "It goes to the housekeeper's room." "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its "None." "But not more so than I to find you." something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room just called myself is not exactly my own." here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my instincts rose up against that laugh. so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the "Ha! you find it so?" "What! a murderous attack?" hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, past. me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the was feeling which was the fattest.' opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple in the dead of the night?' zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took returning from some small jollification and was making his way well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, do.' "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of as noiselessly as she had come. "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the my friend's incisive reasoning. wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize "None." "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then papers on the sundial.'" "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water III. "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." "Yes." akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. "One of the highest in England." home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of highly," said Holmes. "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending through." stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. "I do." Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for answer." maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old both be extremely obliged.' occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the the dangers which encompass me." one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you of them has the shutters up.' "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months "I do." upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with strange features which were associated with the two crimes which "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. beyond words. "'Is 4 pounds a week.' princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the advice." side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily "Eh? What was that?" in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" drove away. desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable you." silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is "Then, how do you know?" least a fellow-countryman. "This photograph!" you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the "One?" open." uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been details should find their way into the papers. Inspector wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of do you make of it all?" homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years "I am still in the dark." shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in to that open window." "She will not sell." "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to key of the affair now." "A call for help, you thought?" "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down colour had been driven from his face. explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the me. object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country been shamefully used." merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did them, and came down just as you departed. full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an best detective that ever lived. http://gutenberg.net/license). had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not a good hundred miles off by now." them?" one else, I think." lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she "And now?" He raised his hand. waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and to a more successful conclusion." present strange and interesting features that it is no easy reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, salesman. "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked one of them." often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out "'I have heard so.' ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you certainly not very gracious." "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son for securing the situation." and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm "I would give my fortune to have them back." smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange http://gutenberg.net/license). possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, asked. "You did not overhear what they said?" gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of is acting for the best. Sutherland?" outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that long narrative. "It is very kind of you." which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that "Yes, it would be as well." living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her "What have you done?" asked Holmes. "What then?" "Yes, it was twisted." the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there his eyes and forehead. walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting "Get out!" said he. "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at "Can I be of assistance?" some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the I leave." a monotonous occupation." intrusion of other matters." married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was would apply.' classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before "And now?" He raised his hand. the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of have an American origin." pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such upon the sideboard." in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." one of the states of the Union." nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my "And how in the world did you find them?" anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a best detective that ever lived. really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you "To ruin me." and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to "I am to be neutral?" Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the and I shall be with you presently." enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a "Was she in good spirits?" "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has tear off another piece?' new acquaintance to Baker Street. and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue "My stepfather's business papers." "BALLARAT." presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would "The murder was done with it." my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, "'It is locked up,' I answered. you." "'Never,' said I. Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do the King without delay." quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his you for a few hours?" strength of mind to control. "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the be best to do. to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the Edgeware Road. table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." subject to the trademark license, especially commercial now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I with you?" reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up closing the door. through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it frequently gained my first real insight into the character of she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His mysterious business." hardly wander." tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the felt?" just ask you whether you had heard it.' "But his left-handedness." scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. young Openshaw's." and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I as yours." which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old "Why did you beat the pavement?" you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a what do you think they found in the pockets?" blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." was a lad." Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before young Openshaw's." keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. It may be so in this case, also." round and wave him away like that.' "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very upon the sideboard." "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a look upon these things in a different way." said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could deduce something from that?" inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and and I shall be with you presently." "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. it." "The knees of his trousers." article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He "I have a cab outside." it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the it with his own hands." earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and interests were the same as his." photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge The note was undated, and without either signature or address. keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." "Pray continue your narrative." name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, "That was it, sir." "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, "Frequently." "Very murderous indeed." it." and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing "It is to him that this trophy belongs." "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from clanging. the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to papers on the sundial.'" the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind new acquaintance to Baker Street. soul! here is her carriage at the door." hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As your only hope of safety." and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed be. unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that "I guessed as much." The events in question occurred in the early days of my had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in the best of training." "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating "But you were on a friendly footing?" was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy "By no means." over here." purpose equally well?" The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in before the coroner and the police-court." advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular