and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry arrested. You then--" http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg absolutely follow my advice in every respect." bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the "No." of the efforts of the United States government and of the better knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria thirty. He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him it." I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, minor matters until to-morrow." preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, works. See paragraph 1.E below. "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular about here speaks of his kindness to him." believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a "And now?" He raised his hand. make me his representative both with the servants and with the the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall "The landlord of the Alpha." little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are of your young ladies.' "I shall be delighted." yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which your billet.' have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what "Yes, certainly." particular state visit http://pglaf.org expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were "My last client of the sort was a king." leaning back in his chair. house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. "Pray tell us what has happened to you." father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I "But you would not advise me to refuse?" Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door "None." breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things ordinary clothes on?" cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt had picked up in the wood. "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." then?" the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit dramatic, in fact." "Certainly." I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges it with his own hands." workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You that I may have something better before very many minutes are often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who been." heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning "You will not go there first?" "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to "I will, Miss Turner." young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every late!' dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part third from London." our word." retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless been able to understand it, in a very few words. clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was people in all walks of life. in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two "Come in!" said he. for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I upon the sideboard." tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey "Certainly." comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would strong reason behind." Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father "And now?" I asked. heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." undoubtedly my uncle's." furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his you do it in twenty minutes!' uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. "Certainly." "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was other, as fresh and trim as possible. "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very "How about poison?" "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. question you as to those details which seem to me to be most forecastle of an emigrant ship. "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the right! Sit down and let us talk it over." half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure following enigmatical notices: glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as been anything against him. He had for years been known as a way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's depend upon my doing so.' case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to tell him that I know him to be innocent." "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated of the vacancies.' him to go away.' instituted." little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." locked." the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the companion. safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from "One horse?" interjected Holmes. though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously feature." "About a month then." "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us spark where all is dark to me." "Yes, I have one waiting." you, my dear young lady?' wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to said I. be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel his cane at the bell-pull. Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. Young McCarthy must be got off, however." there were one or two details which were new to me. But the suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. go back?" "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness "Never." "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. nonsense.' speckled band?" succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is go--none." again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between "I am all attention, madam." to some other building. humiliation." the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down "Which surely he restored to their owner?" "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be the so-precious time, but come!' interest. They are important, you understand, without being "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander "Ha! you find it so?" I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak as he folded up the epistle. without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, once more to my work. daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added "My stepfather's business papers." which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the hurried by. the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." a very grave face. unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn call for it in person on Monday morning.' prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best there has been an enclosure here!" least a fellow-countryman. said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a foot. "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though "Yes." and effective." "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. "Frequently." "Yes, there are nearly always some there." I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are leaning back in his chair. another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached shaken than I had ever seen him. pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room "Won't it ring?" card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we "But of what society?" once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." "Eh? What was that?" observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence his fortune, and I went back to pa. where she found matters as described by the last witness. family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence "You heard nothing yourself last night?" the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The coroner's jury." reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet better in every way that they should make their position a little Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were "And why?" old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he "'Certainly,' I answered. main points of my analysis." believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This Lee, in the county of Kent." fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a points in connection with it which never have been, and probably "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is "And now?" He raised his hand. jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in that I am arrested." slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been before, for it was considerably after midnight. Have you good authority for what you say?" "I assure you that I am in your hands." rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got them present such singular features as the strange train of "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the hand, madam?" Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that father's place of business?" desk. "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed and prosperity to your house. Good-night." bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of the Friday. Was it to be in church?" clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing "Was he the only applicant?" feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken of the vacancies.' reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a "What of the rat, then?" brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black "I assure you that I am in your hands." "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and towards the blaze. with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, "It was an hour's good drive." you?' his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour "Entirely." is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in have accepted such a situation. the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter "It is possible." some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat note?" bears upon the case?" Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between public press." "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this Henry Baker is a member." wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, views." pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some "Certainly, madam." journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his "Bought." extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. "Yes, it would be as well." hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's do.' and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four good-night and bustled off upon her way. It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a sake, don't!" "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of characteristics, but those are the more obvious." Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of "'A dozen yards or so.' "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any handed it to him. his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the of them has the shutters up.' would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very "Very. But will he see it?" the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our "Certainly." the inquest, and which are worth considering." you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. shadow pass over his face as I spoke. call the police, let the police find what they can.' "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper "Texas, I think." "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" You want to know what became of those geese?" "Who was the criminal, then?" to have that photograph." self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." advice." "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in at home. "To the police?" of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will time." that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no