Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in "I answered that I had not. building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" you, my dear young lady?' and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when heavy and sharp instrument." obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call father's young wife. full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. "What do you mean?" as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my voice. "You did not overhear what they said?" Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is which should have the effect of calling the attention of the miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to even of instruction." dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found that, and I came down." lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us "'I have already given you my word.' newspaper selections." "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, the window, rose as we entered. his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little meant it for the best. outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching "To the police?" seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again "Certainly." "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms "I cannot imagine." think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls "Ha! you find it so?" gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the tell them apart.' aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, His name is Francis Prosper." "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the retorted upon me, and I on you." this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he "Then what has happened to him?" any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in is worth.' "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was intrusion of other matters." fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk of the efforts of the United States government and of the better "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the definite end. were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in of it with the greatest attention. occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." Young McCarthy must be got off, however." ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to photograph?" will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. in a friendly supper." kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, "VIOLET HUNTER." confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and until night should bring an explanation. eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause woven round him. "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the "Were they all fastened this morning?" focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an "How about poison?" prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect them, and came down just as you departed. to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' tear off another piece?' Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, business." few hundred pounds.' "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to "Yes." "Ah!" of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about have not had my rubber." galvanised. recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most the very morning of the wedding." should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of "Never." recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any never will be, entirely cleared up. nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the your own bird, so if you wish--" families. Now for the facts. "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a was once confined in the cab my mission was practically "When did she vanish, then?" Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was one which it was hard to resist. of Fenchurch Street." even of instruction." foot. handed it to him. "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return "Could he throw no light?" believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow upon an income of about 60 pounds." charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men "Precisely so. But how--" His name is Francis Prosper." and the church but not where the lady lived." "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe "I think that I had better go, Holmes." "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of is a common subject for conversation. you in your example." contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's other, as fresh and trim as possible. "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the locked. The telegram which we eventually received came late one night "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. which it had come upon my father." no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, "'Where to?' muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug and the whole place is in a blaze." four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each "How did you trace it, then?" be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs "Certainly." "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was "That was it, sir." what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of becomes even more simple." didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same fashion which was peculiar to him. closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small Holmes' room. silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he soul! here is her carriage at the door." thin legs towards the fire. you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to "I was afraid that you were engaged." served to weaken the effect. interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of hour." his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly of the one which your family is now devouring." There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, "Come in!" said he. dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to breakfast?" Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of "Yes, they were peculiar boots." For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. the room while you explain this matter?" 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm "You think that he is dead?" "Yes, it would be as well." take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the had no one to advise her at such a crisis." "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an "'Where to?' "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" "But she could not love him." carpenter." gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the was a lad." "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be guilty one." repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train there when the Rucastles went away." half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than "I cannot tell." I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a me have 200 pounds?' happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two "What is it, then--a fire?" "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and "That's no good." beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her on re-entering her father's house?" peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." "No legal papers or certificates?" "Yes, I have one waiting." thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, guilty parties." conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the are, I think, all that we need." while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his despair." affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing had picked up in the wood. roused himself from his reverie. finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was official police." matter." "Will you bet, then?" in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. forecastle of an emigrant ship. happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on "I have my revolver," said I. suggested at once that there must be a communication between the "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his during the last few years, and there are many noble families to "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for "My stepfather's business papers." Pool. hour?' "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some been deceived." France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who throat." pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to excitement. And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" you want, then?' turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into read over the extraordinary announcement. he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really a good hundred miles off by now." strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to him nearly every evening." chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his could gather together that I was able to avert another public desk. not within a twentieth part of the market price." "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was "Look there!" said he. address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he his huge brown hands. severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had "Yes." was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, "'And the work?' "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the writers could invent nothing more crude." upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. "I should like to see him very much." see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his "He is still with you, I presume?" look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it again before evening." "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man "Yes, I have one waiting." companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the "The King of Scandinavia." husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and "The rest you will leave in our hands." husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down.