"'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" with you alone." fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. second." "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." highroad, where all traces were lost. study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a fire. You quite follow me?" father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the "But what is it you wish?" the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in "I will do it." "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. "Why did you beat the pavement?" however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" had no one to advise her at such a crisis." Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my "You horrify me." "Oh, yes, easily." "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side residence of the great financier. electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it system of imprisonment?" years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken "Absolutely none." in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the me have 200 pounds?' over here." strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step are, I think, all that we need." he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a I approached. bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building "Will you go?" memory. recall any case within my experience which looked at the first repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will of the vacancies.' "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I whereabouts. "I answered that I had not. prepare for the new role I have to play." "Not in a good cause." "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I and it need not interfere very much with one's other out of this horrible affair." was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day "'Stolen!' he cried. destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some again on its way. "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would hurried by. a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to following enigmatical notices: "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my ways of our fellow-men." nonsense.' "What of the rat, then?" eat it." call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, "Precisely." persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other "What I expected to see." into the bag, and made for the door. which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. "He disappeared so suddenly." "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do said I. "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events "I am about to be married." "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." "'No, I know no one in these parts.' "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get "'I am sure if I had known--' Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. learned something! Where are the gems?" "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes "So it appears." he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom and a shock of very red hair. "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." "Quite so. She has her freedom." something of him before." which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian Pope's Court. uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I matter." The events in question occurred in the early days of my of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and as he folded up the epistle. "So I heard. You have him here?" even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a McCarthy's innocence. Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that "I beg pardon." all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have help us in this matter." exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One "I have my revolver," said I. to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain "I have hopes." his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all always that they were such commands as a lady might with "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent "Nothing?" upon the sideboard." the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It been shamefully used." get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the furiously. tassel actually lying upon the pillow. absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always "Could he throw no light?" his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to to some other building. this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At gigantic client. revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to had a long day." collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his that you can jump it.' fear." waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather "Nothing?" "Nothing?" lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and behind me. vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was the Assizes." have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a third from London." London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. "A thing like a cleaver," said he. occurred." "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little "Yes, it would be as well." was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, straighten it?" between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found that he will be back before evening." is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander Miss Holder?" "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time this remarkable episode. "'Quite sure, dad.' Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window "Yes." was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. photograph a cabinet?" "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a thirty. does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses and have this put in the evening papers." Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to was a loud and authoritative tap. if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our "Pray do so." by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. "No." came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some reach." again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." "Not particularly." sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it are, I think, all that we need." and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the "On Monday." twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." peculiar to him. study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand "But how could you guess what the motive was?" having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were written, and locked the door of the office after me. me. You must get home instantly and act." habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." arrangements." test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's acquaintance?" what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very is worth.' "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End "Eh? What was that?" the matter?" hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that who was a member of your goose club." hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the "Were they all fastened this morning?" attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" this unhappy family?" people don't know." PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out "Then I can wait in the next room." eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an too. "Dr. Becher's." to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the girl said." in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him place, I think that there is good ground to think that the And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There long narrative. your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up "Pray be precise as to details," said he. of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" nothing of it?" the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his "On Monday." through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded "The rest you will leave in our hands." "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good directors have had misgivings upon the subject." had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. the warnings." his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." with the outside air!" There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so becomes even more simple." Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was photograph a cabinet?" "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." not personally threatened." "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking a suggestive one." the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other miles off. round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven London for the present?" less than 26s. 4d. thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the as this. Pray let me have the details." managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these prisoner's face. say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more "Not social, then?" "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed an introduction to him?" street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very you?" great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some "Not yet." chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch I took the paper from him and read as follows: Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp he died? door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing main points of my analysis." "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to constraint." abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in into the bag, and made for the door. of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened II. "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the and glanced through. "We must have a cab." ashen face.