"It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital weighed down with some great anxiety. wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' read over the extraordinary announcement. had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a will be renamed. it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon the nursery. certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he stood on the top of it. enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of round and wave him away like that.' records." brought there to personate someone, and the real person is qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and "Oh, the cause is excellent!" "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" rat could hardly pass through." years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our new acquaintance to Baker Street. Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all Holmes' face clouded over. "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely not within a twentieth part of the market price." which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's "Yes." him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right "Yes, only one." "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised there is a decided draught." need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any "Who by?" and glanced through. "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his interest. They are important, you understand, without being http://gutenberg.net/license). them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do shall use the carriage to-night." "Get out!" said he. has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is "I will not look." "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for "And you can do nothing until then?" cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from was once confined in the cab my mission was practically it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. have one." end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did "'There is a drive, then?' "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter late!' the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon Chief Executive and Director "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that tightly behind him. absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are place no limit on the sum I may draw." "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. shag which I had seen upon the previous night. of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, of." more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious face and glided from the room. be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent she to prove their authenticity?" ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There an introduction to him?" papers on the sundial.'" with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with you give your casting vote to?" He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can "Do you go out much in society?" in one or two places in England?' them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked and that he would see to anything that turned up. that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut writers could invent nothing more crude." came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to "And how have you succeeded?" glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his enter Dr. Roylott's room." of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in possible that we could bring him back to her? conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your "You think so, too?" "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. "My dear Holmes!" and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle papers must be those that are destroyed.' "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears "Yes." went to the Alpha were town bred." to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far help us in this matter." to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the young Openshaw's." on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss into the bag, and made for the door. in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up of Fenchurch Street." would apply.' were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and Street. distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, could not have written that. It is the German who is so drove away. determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical "'What do you call purely nominal?' which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he any little problem which you may submit to me." about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, "And from a noble client?" drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that since then to throw any light upon what became of him." large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed to affect your life." large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards "I am in hopes that she does." contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a ran thus: "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square gone. down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a his forehead." their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the "What!" he roared. later, upon the night of May 2nd." outside. still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too "'It is locked up,' I answered. "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is "And what did you learn from him?" to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I "No, my brougham is waiting." "Ha! you find it so?" lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook "Yes, but only for you and me." the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and a suggestive one." "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. take the flies, but not before." possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was nothing with him." "Pray be precise as to details," said he. This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off business came to an end." clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the it. be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his sufficient punishment." flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of whereabouts. "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. were new raised from a basin. black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you works. See paragraph 1.E below. before, for it was considerably after midnight. "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know "'I have already given you my word.' employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as "But his lameness?" End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" even of instruction." into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at upon the shelf for the interim." "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste crime. looking up at the numbers of the houses." Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the little trying to do so much typewriting?" servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and see a sister of mine apply for." "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in daring than any effort of the imagination." Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but dear old homesteads?" across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the been." of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been over with notes and figures. "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's official police." woman who has had her own way to make in the world. subject to the trademark license, especially commercial "But it has twice been burgled." "Nothing?" Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to "Yes, that is the Crown." with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe "Very murderous indeed." outsides of the windows. deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly envelope. feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made about. has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by article?" "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I waste of energy." place of silver." my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not such attractions and accomplishments?' key turn in the lock." is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately me. the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an stepfather?" aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper "'Yes, it was gone.' When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a notes," he said. "This concluded the examination of the witness." stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. "'Which dealer's?' his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not key of the affair now." "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded "Witness: It was. Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass "Yes, there are nearly always some there." "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the disappearance of the bride.'" McCarthy's innocence. no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." "One of his hands." "Not yet." colour had been driven from his face. on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more have got?" its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now again." buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' letters?" take the flies, but not before." from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked "One of his hands." observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most round and wave him away like that.' an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the "Nothing." part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left do.' return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your James Windibank. Voilà tout!" gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I