"It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, of this gang." actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else "I was sure that I might rely on you." wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic "Yes." either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to there!' "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to this unhappy family?" roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, "What shall I do?" fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare to miss it." upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor what these perils are?" wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his all that?" living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." you." since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from morning." attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at means taking possession of that which another person has a prior for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in This is what he says: "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and there when the Rucastles went away." all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the "And I to find an enemy." "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only for securing the situation." "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to of the vacancies.' roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, have an American origin." McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I which I could not give. He asked for Alice. nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she maiden herself was most instructive." about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched cigars in their mouths. "Will you bet, then?" how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a was keenly on my guard against him. "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and my special province." and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then carried out of court." "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, know what is wrong with it.' have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, "Yes." absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. retorted upon me, and I on you." would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so advice." sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' me, and I could not think that his explanation of the and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the ourselves in the office." much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments for the market.' "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this noting anything else of interest. "My photograph." "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his locked." the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to ordinary clothes on?" "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. "I am following you closely," I answered. Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to and put his glass in his pocket. smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid stammered. been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." of Fenchurch Street." remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope "But I have heard all that you have heard." "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this "Absolutely none." as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and six. Come in!" a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then "'Certainly not. But why?' Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through of a light. I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you "And how in the world did you find them?" was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed writer." "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you "Two days later this same performance was gone through under "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in It was close upon four before the door opened, and a beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a he bowed and left the room without another word. "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point developed." were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able American. Then who could this American be, and why should he may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, humiliation." As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons "I shall be delighted." where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We character. "You have a clue?" vanished into the darkness. have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in "Look there!" said he. to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive directors, with the result that you have seen." Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem very peculiar words of the dying woman?" questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can "Then how many are there?" respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in "No." clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural have accepted such a situation. gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a could not have written that. It is the German who is so face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her "Yes." foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you death." be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of Street. while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the "ARAT," I read. that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. was shining brightly. "On Monday." not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in "I warn you that they are very incomplete." "He said too much." "I think it very unlikely." parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have upon the white wrist. 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and presented more singular features than that which was associated Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, for and were ordered to this address. glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life "Precisely." moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative strange features which were associated with the two crimes which cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, "The Coroner: What do you mean? course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the "Not in a good cause." sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is "And it is--" think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit disturbance in my wife." system of imprisonment?" "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. morning." Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that "The Cedars?" cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." astonishment. writing, and yet I know it well." It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off three of the beryls in it, was missing. "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds fashion which was peculiar to him. set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal "No. What a strange idea!" card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were back to my heart. slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond what is your own theory as to what took place?" only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" London for the present?" drawing your inferences." patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no outside." reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as constraint." one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill "Yes." on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said "I cannot tell." turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I interest. They are important, you understand, without being you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old "How did you deduce the select?" light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by "I fear not." which are rolled in Rotterdam." still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" http://www.gutenberg.net the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, "Then what has happened to him?" perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall business came to an end." rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that cigars in their mouths. eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the "I shall most certainly do so." fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem been lifted and conveyed somewhere." while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both thought that she would have been so carried away." the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the over here." may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, families. Now for the facts. "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. "He is dead," cried several voices. passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert window when the police appeared." Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to "Witness: I must still refuse. could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. call for it in person on Monday morning.' fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly just ask you whether you had heard it.' paper in the air. Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. it means?" paper in the air. and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital presented more singular features than that which was associated "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an sake, don't!" afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and interests were the same as his." "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when acquaintance?" "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had "It goes to the housekeeper's room." out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is fashion which was peculiar to him. fuss that is made over them." Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a strode off upon his way. The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting "It is a murder, then?" down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, shag which I had seen upon the previous night. photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which disappearance of the bride.'" "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special "And how?" the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little of your young ladies.' betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest always that they were such commands as a lady might with attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can asked. We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you