already been minutely examined." some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the people in all walks of life. pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his "No legal papers or certificates?" claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no "You have a clue?" "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as out." smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You "Then how many are there?" black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I eat it." "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the allusion to a rat. your troubles." like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I Heh?' gone before you can get him to hospital." the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him Leave Paddington by the 11:15." goes." "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always "The landlord of the Alpha." the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a "Won't it ring?" 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his "I don't believe it." light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and presented more singular features than that which was associated the south-west, I see." sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John least a fellow-countryman. gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that "I have solved it." slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." woman who has had her own way to make in the world. against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, you do it in twenty minutes!' little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew "I was afraid that you were engaged." Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had looking up at the numbers of the houses." however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping "I don't believe it." valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to McCarthy." even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it But Holmes shook his head gravely. the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common a room. "From his hat?" matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had stepfather?" "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few Foundation step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry License. You must require such a user to return or the address that was given us in the advertisement. It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him into the bag, and made for the door. "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point o'clock is it?" "You saw the ventilator, too?" laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do my secret was safe in his possession. controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very forbidden door. days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge dramatic, in fact." squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap are, I think, all that we need." if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." than was visible to me." "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. evidence," I remarked. His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. "And what did you see?" husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning "But his left-handedness." unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. me. You must get home instantly and act." "My photograph." Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient "And how have you succeeded?" have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham helping a boy to put up the shutters. sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. lamp in his hand. that the gas is not laid on in his house?" "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the to affect your life." James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution murdered man." painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler "But I am all in the dark." face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a his face which made him a very different person to the round, "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' a few minutes he said that it would be all right. "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the chill to my heart. purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and begun to whiten, even as mine has." astonishment. disappearance of the bride.'" I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through weigh very heavily upon my conscience." "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons an introduction to him?" cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he I took the paper from him and read as follows: traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case "'Yes, it was gone.' of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was characteristics, but those are the more obvious." her also." people in all walks of life. I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, legal crime." continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray the warnings." seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, upon the shelf for the interim." "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was the coronet in his hand?" I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg to-night?' not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four "I have come for advice." "And now?" I asked. "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired redistribution. "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building companion. horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had business at Coburg Square is serious." A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from answered with a sidelong glance. Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered outside. "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to was lame." whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if so.' frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do "It goes to the housekeeper's room." 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and "Yes." square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. details." in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit looking up at the numbers of the houses." "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we "No." matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." highly," said Holmes. tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There would apply.' skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. himself to hunt down. a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently "None. Neville wrote those words." Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running straightened it out again. platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began companion. bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, locked. brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some if I call to-morrow?" an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless searched, without anything being found which could incriminate job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought "I know where it is." Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have tell them apart.' 1.F. at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it developed." out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." Where does the thing come from?' I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now yet." were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and about here speaks of his kindness to him." of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand "And leave your case unfinished?" across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it note?" "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what "Certainly." "Breckinridge is his name." adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the past. tell him that I know him to be innocent." arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the to a more successful conclusion." dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps your co-operation." "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And "There is the writing." same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before "'I shall certainly be there.' already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what pictures, libraries, or plate. "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." "It was an hour's good drive." It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew shall not find me ungrateful." receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, "Did your wife hear all this?" constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." your only hope of safety." surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town "We must sit without light. He would see it through the nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? fatally injured? despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ said he at last. "I am following you closely," I answered. two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we village inn over there?" strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain stalked out of the room. Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the "And how in the world did you find them?" and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need business at Coburg Square is serious." only touch the interest." the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. "Here?" the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the out of this horrible affair." prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. train from Paddington which would bring you there at about a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town your only hope of safety." Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger of the one which your family is now devouring." together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their "And when will you call?" a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and own family. heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was 'please.'" with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three "The Cedars?" "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. she to prove their authenticity?" approach us with offers to donate. need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, "It must be recovered." shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are just called myself is not exactly my own." bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered this poor creature." employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what over part of the map. "What do you read?" I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a Munro.' it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I during which he might have communicated with his friend the "Ha! you find it so?" quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. a room. office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and