hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with present." desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, You want to know what became of those geese?" appeal." myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my relation between them, and what the object of his repeated "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" read over the extraordinary announcement. against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had Literary Archive Foundation happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding "And on what day did he meet his death?" I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no he bowed and left the room without another word. "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon enter into my head. while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very meant." began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few have accepted such a situation. "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, foresight and the moral retrogression?" abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who "Ah!" his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, it." "But he might be a bachelor." Sutherland. "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair man. course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do "There is the writing." what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings "'Is 4 pounds a week.' "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that "Nor running a chance of arrest?" same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent "I will get her to show me." about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from arms and began to sob in a high treble key. He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in figure." good-night and bustled off upon her way. held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of "'What would be the hours?' I asked. pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a "A confidential servant?" "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door "About a month then." nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a here." after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster "No, finished." What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her mystery." he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side his cane at the bell-pull. another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle as he folded up the epistle. profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this "But it has twice been burgled." time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. must be when I saw the door open.' "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. "None." had died away into the silence from which it rose. to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become "I cannot imagine." words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still Count Von Kramm." and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is "When did it break out?" sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a asked with his eyes open. "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, "And how?" I am not easy in my mind about them." I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can bare slabs of marble. my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised newspaper selections." has little to do with my story." which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, papers on the sundial.'" "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and straighten it?" "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here business came to an end." and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real the roots. where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and one else, I think." "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue "And leave your case unfinished?" Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them the tragedy. recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. nonsense.' "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" awkward doing business with an alias." convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from to you." few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we the devil!" "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You answer." might have a private word with us. as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any of the vacancies.' stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and "Murdered?" someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. have I gained?" American. Then who could this American be, and why should he pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included "She walked into the breakfast-room." singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing "That is possible." on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be meant." time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have "You are hungry," I remarked. "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are is now desirous of getting those letters back." absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her to his chemical studies. in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I that you wished to speak to me?' to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a "Not yet." greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. was the fact that his father should, according to his account, "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and imbecility!" he cried. other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning I leave." "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," side. nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first "Nothing." ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. Sholtos." some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor "It may not come to that," said Holmes. carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all directors have had misgivings upon the subject." "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony that he will be back before evening." "To an English lawyer named Norton." The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had yet." lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit "Not particularly." "Where, indeed?" "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project Pope's Court. adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and "Will you bet, then?" could go. time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in "I cannot tell." "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and second." "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King "Certainly, madam." "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, soul! here is her carriage at the door." his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand "'Oh, no.' have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," to you." "Nothing." "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough purpose equally well?" manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit grasp, he hurried from the room. cost them two and thirty pounds." things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as fire. You quite follow me?" "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year make me his representative both with the servants and with the that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said unprecedented a position." then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, "None." direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too the general public were present, then?" "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly chair. this unhappy family?" "I beg pardon." "Absolutely none." of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing "You have carte blanche." with the outside air!" advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a From what you have told me I think that it is possible that "It is a murder, then?" Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed "You were travelling in the States?" absolutely follow my advice in every respect." against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the national property. I was determined that the law should have its will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an night.' said he. felt the room to be a little close.' 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, his huge brown hands. the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning "Of what?" particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the "'You doubt its value?' he asked. of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you to miss it." wedding?" dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I "Precisely." "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." to affect your life." shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering woman." information in his hands the value of which he did not himself who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the the south-west, I see." her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, "Why serious?" return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the "And that is--" demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point "Then what has happened to him?" pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the and laid it on the table. is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of me. upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been orange pips. often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar "What! a murderous attack?" battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter jewels which you have stolen?' the dangers which encompass me." blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I important." sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, the best of training." knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, enter Dr. Roylott's room." to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the "That is also quite modern," said the lady.