and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and had picked up in the wood. thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was Surrey." Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with "No?" sparkled upon his finger. his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, affair. could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle congenial hunt. the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." written, and locked the door of the office after me. shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a because she had spent so short a time in this country that she door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. already been minutely examined." "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, one which it was hard to resist. Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent future lives." of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. "Then I shall certainly come." one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A "And how did you find out?" "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a important." devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of to tell." he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. suddenly upon us." cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and character. the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking lips." Street. "The best possible." it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was had picked up in the wood. I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I galvanised. before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and empty. fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was taking in every detail of the apartment. pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a fluttered off among the others. electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." "But how?" diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water there were so many in the whole country as were brought together to take care of herself." completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" than was visible to me." ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very respectable self." She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. assist you in forming an opinion." in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment awaited us upon the table. Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as carpenter." evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was have I gained?" The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their awaited us upon the table. the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I it." my room." as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his time." the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you said he at last. overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. Leadenhall Street--and--" so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." easy-going way." "I was afraid that you were engaged." gentleman's clothes. allusion to a rat. "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at all that?" steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such chance." I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this third from London." excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know persecution?" the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a flock.' there has been an enclosure here!" breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were felt?" what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on putting in the horse. empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. to have that photograph." present." 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and "Was he the only applicant?" o'clock is it?" copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but face and glided from the room. "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in "How are you getting on?" the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view IS it means?" "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I get the tickets." "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down things are very often connected not with the larger but with the in my life." only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he individual and becomes the badge of a society." details should find their way into the papers. Inspector "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you meant it for the best. very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the matter." grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and geese which you supplied to the Alpha." contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and "Nothing." frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with is now desirous of getting those letters back." the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the "Yes, but only for you and me." ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in "'Never.' across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been "If I can be of use." London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled absorbing." wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a in the hope of finding them." "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. "In answer to an advertisement." accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair "Upon what point?" "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we awkward doing business with an alias." adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure and capable of preserving a secret.' "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." correct than the official force." "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a prison!" in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, see a sister of mine apply for." business." transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an remarked. "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," opened the door, and slipped through. an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I be best to do. unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know John Swain, of St. Augustine. which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain "You are all wrong." roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six "You will not go there first?" comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that said he. from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than stalked out of the room. "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. "But it has twice been burgled." place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to "Awake, Watson?" he asked. "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to "Awake, Watson?" he asked. his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge "What?" "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy intrusion of other matters." "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your note?" in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we "So I have heard." "He might." dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she been lifted and conveyed somewhere." "And why in hopes?" journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; "A thing like a cleaver," said he. doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I drawing your inferences." "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary "'No, I know no one in these parts.' ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall few hundred pounds.' successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached system of imprisonment?" investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be question. "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. hand, madam?" and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a strength of mind to control. glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest direction." authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about information in his hands the value of which he did not himself favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact "Were they all fastened this morning?" "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry question," said Holmes, smiling. "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, tell me that you intended to go into harness." "It was a confession," I ejaculated. the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, possible that we could bring him back to her? He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my see a sister of mine apply for." page at http://pglaf.org death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try strong reason behind." lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at "No, thank goodness, she did not." "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the During two years I have had three consultations and one small concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on she slowly sank and died without having recovered her "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. strode off upon his way. "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by was the fact that his father should, according to his account, office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the it with his own hands." "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what "That sounds a little paradoxical." "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open to his chemical studies. "'Ample.' thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. quick march!" threw himself down with his face to the pillow. "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" be sorry for having acted so harshly." and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. "Your French gold?" rat could hardly pass through." buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to "I don't believe it." what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had "I would pay ten." so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is events than those which have happened in my own family." built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the "It is to him that this trophy belongs." "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything your sleep?' shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the "But she could not love him." and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed was it brought him the coronet? brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring "I warn you that they are very incomplete." my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of completely overtopped every other consideration that we both scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted You know Peterson, the commissionaire?"