banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my "Why, what do you mean?" village inn over there?" however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us of campaign. There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young man. "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened "You forget that I know nothing about it." "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a your equipment. murdered man." gigantic client. a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident families. Now for the facts. the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer annoyance, but no jest. deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she "It is his hat." the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. "I shall be delighted." "About a month then." on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, me what he had done with the three missing stones. reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin "How did that help you?" to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as the so-precious time, but come!' forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! knowledge of the world." "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has both be extremely obliged.' "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's hour." what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right "What then?" brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was of campaign. and inquire as to the address." "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." before the coroner and the police-court." "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as "You did not overhear what they said?" corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor down from London to inquire more deeply into it." husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with posted to-day." Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout himself. air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this good for you to do.' "Very murderous indeed." return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy "I cannot imagine." return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate was a lad." I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, what do you think they found in the pockets?" as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to them?" his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train his grey eyes. Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of the salesman. have been better. It is all right." stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in "'Then let me do so?' troubles have been weighing upon his mind. copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but in my life." "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over pity, because in other respects you would really have done very "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock other means.' flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly cause to be." fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided unprecedented a position." prison!" "Do you receive much company?" he asked. whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness "And why?" woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his where she found matters as described by the last witness. found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it what these perils are?" "10th. John Swain cleared. "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself neither fascinating nor artistic." John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from father's young wife. you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was "What then?" window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would The events in question occurred in the early days of my wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice swore that no one else had been in the front room during the believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her "I shall most certainly do so." reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we where she found matters as described by the last witness. very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a me have 200 pounds?' copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would outside." out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a the tragedy. "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of quick march!" "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the shall use the carriage to-night." Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would "I am sure." "That is easily got." envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend "Yes." then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, interested in these little problems, and since you are good "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before "But his lameness?" almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to crime." nothing of it?" pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to appeal." in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no in his hands." a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a "Where to?" he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that "Why did you beat the pavement?" your equipment. words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at bed dies. Does not that strike you?" then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. young Openshaw's." approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." "Witness: Nothing definite. fled together." of." transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from "'Stolen!' he cried. the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" begun to whiten, even as mine has." looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and one's self under obligations.' "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked everything which you would wish to know." points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he his wife has ceased to love him." "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the happened." said he. occurred." what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully "'I shall certainly be there.' part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and a very grave face. you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when that, and I came down." doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet "Yes, he did." "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are bill, which interests me deeply." have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I beyond words. the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is "I don't say that. Perhaps." "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his attention." occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came in your London, you will know that the office of the company is form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the Leadenhall Street--and--" "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the late!' "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the as the one I chose?' "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until "Come in!" said Holmes. the night.' past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in "What do you mean?" creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a "You are all wrong." manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to "Here?" "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying in. "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your more solid." He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through "Because he was handy and would come cheap." I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, which we had just quitted. to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. hurried away. and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about colonel looking down at me. "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, "Stoke Moran?" said he. public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining did not hear it also.' the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin "Did you become engaged then?" Mrs. Toller serenely. "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the and files of the old papers, following the future career of every "Get out!" said he. of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue His smile broadened. Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." tied." feature." with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." License. You must require such a user to return or "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" most important business. It is probable that he will be away all called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, "Nothing." "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from "Not social, then?" I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped "Precisely." "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small fear." "It is his hat." he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I the warnings." I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then advice." appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that shadow pass over his face as I spoke. reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were to-night?' "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm mysterious business." waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, down in his armchair and closing his eyes. Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said must compliment you." be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his "Of what day?" still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about way in." "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." "And I to find an enemy." how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a papers." the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is them?" handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and "Stolen." wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than his huge brown hands. time." ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** that I may have something better before very many minutes are