the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home new acquaintance to Baker Street. get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge carried out of court." since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and read it out to me." "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and late." "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, weary and pale-looking. "She told me to ask you." unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course all?" "The gentleman I describe." "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that "But how?" you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer What do you deduce from it?" "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went October 9, 1890. the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of yet." "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the swore that no one else had been in the front room during the I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers are, I think, all that we need." "In the cells." absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy "Pray do so." Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest "I have hopes." was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in upon a handsome competence. least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty Sutherland?" absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and you in yours." impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that business." object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed appeal." which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said "'Which dealer's?' "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom telegram would bring me down to your help." wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My "I have come for advice." at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." "Then you may be so with me." The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, rooms." is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over undoubtedly my uncle's." lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set "BALLARAT." was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! you came in." to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, "What will you say?" "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a something of him before." prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. indiscretion." gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so prepare for the new role I have to play." "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to him." have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said companion quietly. Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must maid will bring up your coffee." money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but relief. have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." "Nothing?" believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under highly," said Holmes. "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat "That also I could fathom." chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH "Then, as to money?" "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them "Ah, but I was recommended to you." down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to "What I expected to see." rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would "Why, what do you mean?" edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination go back?" "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project light and attacked it." have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was has little to do with my story." demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the tear off another piece?' himself in a perplexing position. should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in "What office?" myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know there!' "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, tapping his fingers upon the table. his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman The police have openly confessed that they can at present make be. "Was she in good spirits?" place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will the warnings." "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a before the coroner and the police-court." "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old lumber-room." "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the Holmes. "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." "I don't say that. Perhaps." vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which "Awake, Watson?" he asked. through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had both be extremely obliged.' Sutherland?" me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger footfalls from the street. sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists public press." rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning brought there to personate someone, and the real person is My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the morning." gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly "Yes, only one." "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words signal between you and your father? salesman. "You don't mind breaking the law?" There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that details should find their way into the papers. Inspector you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One not use it unless it is absolutely needed." roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the "In which, sir?" "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior "What can you not understand?" Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of "Look there!" said he. "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may "Yes." and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps ways including including checks, online payments and credit card Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently "Well, some hundreds of times." walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who "I am about to be married." Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature "It is possible." Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through never came back." all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when "I should be immensely obliged to you." kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a locked." chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the "Perfectly so." machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted answered with a sidelong glance. The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an quite distinctive." study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." "Imitated." that you wished to speak to me?' "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make "I know where it is." unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and "Your presence might be invaluable." public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, "The murder was done with it." are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, signal between you and your father? myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. views." as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you "But you would not advise me to refuse?" the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and success. conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and prepare for the new role I have to play." age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the relief. a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a been shamefully used." another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little business." serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you "'What then?' I asked. wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be answered with a sidelong glance. the matter?" surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" might help us?" should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down room?" "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with "Indeed! Whose, then?" this Miss Turner." at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you few hundred pounds.' through." following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was learned something! Where are the gems?" "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just like that before?" Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons "What! You do not mean bodies?" how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each forecastle of an emigrant ship. "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, companion. have got?" "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. "'Tell me all about it,' said I. interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, "Murdered?" Pope's Court. the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a "What of the rat, then?" "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter "'Never,' said I. Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" "But you would not advise me to refuse?" "It missed him, then?" which was all perfectly true. "You are certainly joking, Holmes." however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' colonel looking down at me. partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City "And now?" He raised his hand. and have this put in the evening papers." unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being nonsense.' never to learn it at all." pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth have not had my rubber." marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been James Windibank. Voilà tout!" "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited "But the mystery?" nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the to arrive at through this?" attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If "Holmes, the busybody!" surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. assist you in forming an opinion." one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence persecution?" devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she the devil!" daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked window when the police appeared." I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My gone. which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, "'What are you doing there?' he asked. away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before Dr. Gregory B. Newby street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it Eyford." pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at must be when I saw the door open.' though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the was it brought him the coronet? strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his his cane at the bell-pull. chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "What! You do not mean bodies?" waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. in his hands." I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the "But you would not advise me to refuse?" lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't "He is dead," cried several voices. night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at