it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's "Which are?" "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' "What are they?" suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the newspaper selections." "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady you." residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would that threaten you." useful material for showing traces. The double line a little "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." "Perhaps we may make them less so." stammered. nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth rooms." despair." your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you the loss of it. It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. had died away into the silence from which it rose. "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have business came to an end." actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, chambers. and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already "What will you say?" "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few "There are none." went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was death." examination of the premises, but without finding anything which yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." "Who by?" works. of this gang." He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier triumphant cloud from his cigarette. was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. "Nor running a chance of arrest?" "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away time." Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, more terrible than the truth. Lestrade of Scotland Yard." were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, meant it for the best. "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an astonishment. nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in back to my heart. left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for "A call for help, you thought?" does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the will be renamed. I held the little printed slip to the light. to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for and capable of preserving a secret.' roused himself from his reverie. swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy mysterious business." speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to Literary Archive Foundation How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son about. "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. discontent upon his features. explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, highly," said Holmes. asked. somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the miles off. observed. charge against him will break down." sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my comes from the middle window." permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, strength in the others." "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as before the coroner and the police-court." outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during copied or distributed: 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." "To an end?" "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek advice." connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to least a most suspicious remark." "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that arrested. You then--" "On Monday." staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her chill to my heart. "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was something of him before." and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on "And you don't know his address?" Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their to a light-house. smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as as the one I chose?' conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from not interfere, come what may. You understand?" the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I "What!" he roared. would apply.' We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into indeed which he could not unravel. mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped handed it to him. "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has "Why? What do you mean?" course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a wall." engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was a room. which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a "'Is purely nominal.' to me. I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. "In San Francisco, a year ago." only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous business matters.' I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small bare slabs of marble. "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," in his hands." suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." bed dies. Does not that strike you?" the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and looking up at the numbers of the houses." persecution?" office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands absolutely follow my advice in every respect." will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The whole matter to your consideration." frequently gained my first real insight into the character of second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness the loss of it. "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, front of the hall door has given its name to the place. "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my served to weaken the effect. "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of whether it answered to the description of any of their helping a boy to put up the shutters. nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and is worth.' As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while my former friend and companion. which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that which was all perfectly true. he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime head. So long, then!" heavily into it. very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and "Nothing?" "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you out." where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, 'please.'" have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the "It is solved." its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and ways including including checks, online payments and credit card beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any "And now?" I asked. have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present breakfast and whispered something to her husband. Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. woman." wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took do.' hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant "What then?" "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and "I cannot as yet see any connection." "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a enter Dr. Roylott's room." sound at heart." "She told me to ask you." "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which the devil!" ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, congenial hunt. few hundred pounds.' "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He companion imperturbably. posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in examine." "Texas, I think." as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow so far?" pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called you came in." "Nor running a chance of arrest?" examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included than to us. "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." "We were both in the photograph." brandy and water within his reach. Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back of." One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up affection." visitors." "By no means." sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. digesting their breakfasts at home." dramatic, in fact." sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" quick march!" the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they held up the lantern and gazed about him. style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One "What do you mean?" well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the "By no means." "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the "Which are?" remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of "There are none." would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee only touch the interest." long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in was not a bird to be seen there. "Seven!" I answered. smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly promised to bring home. "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already character. "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his "May I see it?" more terrible than the truth. 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing "'Stolen!' he cried. teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. you for a few hours?" I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our ago." "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down breakfast." and all of them with the keenest interest. "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." seem to you to be relevant or not." impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish papers." When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place depend upon your compliance." Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend to some other building. smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we "But you would not advise me to refuse?" Project Gutenberg-tm works. effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through I took the paper from him and read as follows: "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), "On Monday." then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and do.' interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want whether it answered to the description of any of their must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. have an American origin." be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the instituted." will take you up to see the machine.' building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the "And Irene Adler?" anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, Clair, of Lee." are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, "Who by?" "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, arrested. You then--" "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose "Perfectly so." Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, "But how?" whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were away into the river." way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol?