Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see sneer upon his pale face. corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his My friend smiled. "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a tail." "Not in the least." my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that were new raised from a basin. "And what did you see?" There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham 11:15.' third from London." rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this "It is possible." where we are going." Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" fear." fattened it expressly for you.' hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low and capable of preserving a secret.' out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. horse could go." "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do of campaign. Holmes." "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! the general public were present, then?" Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that lids now and glanced across at his visitor. "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding "Ah!" simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and wedding?" Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend "Murdered?" introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, eavesdroppers?' himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, away to you." said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to "It missed him, then?" was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential "Where did you address your letters, then?" enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer must compliment you." "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to begun to whiten, even as mine has." mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." had died away into the silence from which it rose. the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A young Openshaw's." undoubtedly my uncle's." intimate personal affairs in this public manner." cause to be." the matter?" struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and crowd. "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end empty. matter over." I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an she might be summoned. "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every "Then what has happened to him?" could not account in any way for the presence of the missing back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take that you saw all that I did." once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the "'Certainly not. But why?' I. basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. photograph a cabinet?" my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that train.' patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she derbies." shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar voice. the night.' This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off bed dies. Does not that strike you?" know that the truth is known." so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his the child." gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on business." grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" daring than any effort of the imagination." view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. The telegram which we eventually received came late one night http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all relation between them, and what the object of his repeated "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." what I may call a really hard day's work." "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. "And did you observe any change in her then?" "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the completely overtopped every other consideration that we both her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, "You don't mind breaking the law?" place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to information in his hands the value of which he did not himself into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, memory. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" "I cannot tell." again, where I was soon asleep. friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her "Just look it up, then." The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself "You are hungry," I remarked. has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your awaited us upon the table. "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and read it out to me." "Witness: Nothing definite. would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the "Ample." in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it with you?" like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the the iron safe, which he closed upon it. scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by noise which awoke you from your sleep?" pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into upon a handsome competence. "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement shoulder. there in twenty minutes." other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his becomes even more simple." "BALLARAT." "Was the window open?" cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long "I have a cab outside." bled considerably." "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to against a man in the prime of life?" previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover "'I am sure if I had known--' Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off right! Sit down and let us talk it over." drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you "Yes." "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of Edgeware Road. some city in a dream. "She showed me, as I told you she would." carried out of court." "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just "But you would not advise me to refuse?" distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive like gravel from a pit.' find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' rose-bushes. that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him them, and came down just as you departed. "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that not personally threatened." "My private note-paper." "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." the King without delay." "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." jewels which you have stolen?' clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the quickly through a disagreeable task. then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were one else, I think." "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over ways including including checks, online payments and credit card "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. "And how?" muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my "I will try. What is it?" "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the "It is half-past ten now." "How did he come?" the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a signal between you and your father? He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" "'Then let me do so?' shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in other lovers by making love himself." it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place been shamefully used." McCarthy's innocence. "Pray let us have it, for all that." things are very often connected not with the larger but with the have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the my room." error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' grasp, he hurried from the room. "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy "It is possible." "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my returning from some small jollification and was making his way an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll "How did that help you?" "No, finished." unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I "You think so, too?" woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' "Why serious?" was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the "I have seen the police." the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be because she had spent so short a time in this country that she the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. investigation." PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, From what you have told me I think that it is possible that The summons was a brief and urgent one. when your master had gone out." me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down "You think so, too?" that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. are, I think, all that we need." tell me that you intended to go into harness." clang of the bell. came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have "Stolen." travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist arms and began to sob in a high treble key. Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had Holmes' face clouded over. imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch conversation I have gathered that they have been married about third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things even of instruction." "In the cells." to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he "I should like to see him very much." have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she "I think that it is very probable." cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy giving me time to thank him. "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect "You'll never persuade me to believe that." boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the "Stolen, then." there were so many in the whole country as were brought together