"Pooh, pooh! Forgery." "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a the so-precious time, but come!' "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I wedding?" half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a McCarthy's innocence. "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking better grown goose." younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia "That is also quite modern," said the lady. "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you "Have you her photograph?" fire. You quite follow me?" "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to to Leatherhead. smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I away to you." fasten all the windows?" of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually wanted for ourselves." thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. once more on the important position which you have been fortunate professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very Edgeware Road. need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. "We have tried and failed." "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore "What! Had he lost his wife?" in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have vague figure huddled up in the darkness. the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable awkward doing business with an alias." "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid and effective." little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't "He disappeared so suddenly." heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until persecution?" very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The question. you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 "I beg pardon." "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the arrested. You then--" "Stolen." corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand have an American origin." Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, them?" despaired of." But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my suggested at once that there must be a communication between the points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped meant." And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his "I have hopes." "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" carriage. It was a chestnut." do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper have not had my rubber." without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton before, for it was considerably after midnight. "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he "In which, sir?" window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the "No, thank goodness, she did not." information in his hands the value of which he did not himself some mystery and the punishment of some crime." light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. suspect him." with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you becomes even more simple." "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. to surprise her." extraordinary contortions. arrangements." carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so "Nothing?" deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" works. See paragraph 1.E below. abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a "Then I shall certainly come." "Witness: I must still refuse. strange features which were associated with the two crimes which "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, "In San Francisco, a year ago." in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself "Your sister is dead, then?" the King without delay." the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible whereabouts. "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to heavy and sharp instrument." was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime "Certainly." heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." "Here?" "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which companion quietly. agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the me. You must get home instantly and act." heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we friend's singular character. were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her thirty. "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were "ARAT," I read. possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of that the gas is not laid on in his house?" 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, learned something! Where are the gems?" "And it is--" Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be breakfast?" decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is "But she will refuse." would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which seen the man in the road." down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, *** START: FULL LICENSE *** them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or children over to America with him, so that I found myself without been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. "I don't believe it." of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could call for protection in the marriage market, for the present "Look there!" said he. "I don't say that. Perhaps." returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is "What then?" vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do "Here?" "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. of a light. his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by "Deserted you?" danger is over." Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my "And how?" "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of cheerful." her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still of campaign. side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in opened a pocket-book and took out a note. end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. enough to aid us in our search." have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, astonishment. some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may "So I am. Very much so." knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had some terrible trap for her." data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now "Then you may entirely rely on me." Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by "Well." already referred to. "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" "I cannot as yet see any connection." matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that "I think it very unlikely." "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of "Witness: It was. where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which with her." "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." not come at once?" sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able page at http://pglaf.org "My dear Holmes!" clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and chill to my heart. friend's singular character. feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a Lee, in the county of Kent." "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless outsides of the windows. pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if there were one or two details which were new to me. But the filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole very peculiar words of the dying woman?" Munro.' "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it arrested. You then--" I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and Leave Paddington by the 11:15." and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us the coronet at all injured?" necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something Literary Archive Foundation naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' to where he stood hid behind the curtain. "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, me where it went to?" look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far "What shall I do?" can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which will not take me long to tell. my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness case before our client came into the room." "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel to-morrow." retorted upon me, and I on you." His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the "To an English lawyer named Norton." into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the was not a bird to be seen there. "Yes." The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen photograph?" touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, "And Irene Adler?" lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built "That is possible." The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very strange features which were associated with the two crimes which stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a them?" Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work been with you?" official police." "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without because she had spent so short a time in this country that she Heh?' could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of views." people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is see me here to avoid scandal." "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, there was no need for father to know." has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up "Then he might have called to you?" purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though and the church but not where the lady lived." "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in to talk it over. "Did you observe the colour?" the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were without a word or a look. "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the visitors." bore every mark of being an average commonplace British "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely and it need not interfere very much with one's other "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, Doctor, of the paper and the date." "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you States. flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and in one or two places in England?' strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and "Then how many are there?" looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This too. Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." fuss that is made over them." I shall communicate with you." the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these crowd. reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from your only hope of safety." "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his