road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' seven miles from Eyford Station.' 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business John Swain, of St. Augustine. travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself "What! Had he lost his wife?" showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. returned to France?" you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue have not had my rubber." "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new door?" when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. I held the little printed slip to the light. severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our intrusion of other matters." read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. to tell." have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, a room. was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day went to the Alpha were town bred." saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest "'Stolen!' he cried. "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness electronic works Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes I shall continue with my miserable story. you give your casting vote to?" the ceiling. room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the the armchair which I pushed forward for him. to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she throat." The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. details should find their way into the papers. Inspector always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and Clair, of Lee." of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. "One horse?" interjected Holmes. "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own Surrey." knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he help us in this matter." "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was It was close upon four before the door opened, and a had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster "Your sister is dead, then?" "'I am sure that I do not know.' the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. "It certainly sounds feasible." avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to persecution?" straightened it out again. Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some coroner's jury." all-comprehensive glances. the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. "The knees of his trousers." in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the intrusion of other matters." time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from "Will you go?" as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling unprecedented a position." bled considerably." pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have himself to hunt down. gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are "Now, then, what's the last entry?" face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have "'It is locked up,' I answered. you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the the south-west, I see." looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our might help us?" that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into "It was an hour's good drive." "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon "Thank you. Pray proceed." while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence yards of it?' clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of sufficient punishment." her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction the bed, and you in that chair." train.' "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does "What! You do not mean bodies?" "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in was feeling which was the fattest.' side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees might help us?" "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been The note was undated, and without either signature or address. "Come in!" said he. into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the business in the City. She little knew what. of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no "And your mother is alive?" should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From "What shall I do?" Watson," he said cordially. ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present woman." as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing "'Ten to two.' make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. retorted upon me, and I on you." Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into walking." 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with nonsense.' with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? breakfast?" "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to emerged. into the room. in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I friend's singular character. "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might "Which surely he restored to their owner?" although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the late." quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." considering the formidable letters which were received by himself self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark yet." the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the "From his hat?" throat." minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon "And I say east," said my patient. he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal "Well, it is a possible supposition." kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of "No legal papers or certificates?" here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling "'I have already given you my word.' while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, "But he might be a bachelor." upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing troubles have been weighing upon his mind. "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, to take care of herself." to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its "'No, I know no one in these parts.' little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers was once confined in the cab my mission was practically "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, "Nor running a chance of arrest?" And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would anything to a woman, for she would have her way." same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I train from Paddington which would bring you there at about About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which danger is over." nothing of it?" than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was character. third from London." of them has the shutters up.' moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been figure." the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight read over the extraordinary announcement. "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. purpose of examination. dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss way in everything. "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." later, upon the night of May 2nd." Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of without success. At last the little money which I had saved began in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it "And Irene Adler?" a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have it. hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. of Mr. Rucastle's." "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. an introduction to him?" room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your future lives." Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal matter." their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with narrative." he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when "You did not overhear what they said?" had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was been shamefully used." gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to "He is dead," cried several voices. doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I standing smiling on the door-step. you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. "'Certainly not. But why?' "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, "And your mother is alive?" are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the be sorry for having acted so harshly." quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about 'please.'" his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" threw himself down with his face to the pillow. suspect him." "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room "I cannot imagine." the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking "One horse?" interjected Holmes. this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face "Then I am your man." sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for said he. shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to sneer upon his pale face. "What, then, did Peterson do?" "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King young Openshaw's." that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards Foundation "I am sure." "I promise," said Holmes. "But his lameness?" wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much awkward doing business with an alias." Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and II. "'Then let me do so?' "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every soul! here is her carriage at the door." while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his "Murdered?" "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my "How did that help you?" "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to "May I see it?" or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon "The Coroner: What do you mean? License. You must require such a user to return or seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand which should have the effect of calling the attention of the left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same you." I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your of the vacancies.' papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the introspective fashion. years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me "'What then?' I asked. "No legal papers or certificates?" to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand made his money." me. You must get home instantly and act." in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the "Ten will be early enough." pressing in one house as in another. in his power. never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took returning from some small jollification and was making his way "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have be sorry for having acted so harshly." bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. God! What an exposure! What can I do?" showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. client, rising. it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught touch that coronet?' I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my to a light-house.