"Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. enter Dr. Roylott's room." lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. have got?" painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things something of him before." Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and speckled band?" Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered from the brougham. called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own back to my heart. the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." "How are you getting on?" "And your mother is alive?" swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all there were so many in the whole country as were brought together can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which "A call for help, you thought?" neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly "And how in the world did you find them?" already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry questioning and rather startled gaze. "Pray do so." standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed away into the river." "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's miles off. Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, notes," he said. "How many? I don't know." I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and "The rest you will leave in our hands." sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. of note-paper. It read in this fashion: however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, "This concluded the examination of the witness." to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be appeared upon the scene." My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but During two years I have had three consultations and one small "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then "The decline of his fortunes, then?" "It was." decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is sooner or later she must fall a victim. feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort outbreak?" "To ruin me." their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of weary and pale-looking. utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some pictures, libraries, or plate. might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. rooms." marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, "Certainly." in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, again." "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined for and were ordered to this address. smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." go--none." feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we foot. and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which secret." society." half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in in. have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly "Why, what do you mean?" that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence said he. down in his armchair and closing his eyes. panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." "It is true that I have been generally successful." yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, "Oh, the cause is excellent!" in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. second." "'About the same.' "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers "In the cells." "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked my special province." schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah "Not yet." analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. "Dr. Becher's." "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to ran thus: surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, John Swain, of St. Augustine. shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. the tragedy. together. few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" digesting their breakfasts at home." He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. at home. "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come tension within him. Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in behind me. "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms London for the present?" which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard had no one to advise her at such a crisis." in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note "What can it mean?" I gasped. fasten all the windows?" a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" the tragedy. or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and be best to do. five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee thirty. with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling "But you were on a friendly footing?" remarked. such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the "Yes, sir." sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and "It missed him, then?" "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, considering the formidable letters which were received by himself foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your dates and names. will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had "Yes, sir." "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And Again Holmes raved in the air. whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your and I shall be with you presently." "She will not sell." and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into never came back." common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way assist you in forming an opinion." and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the photograph?" earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these "'And the work?' Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which face and glided from the room. think you a quite exceptional woman." the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this straighten it?" shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements Farm upon the left." here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. "He said too much." "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune hurried by. morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. it. "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." do." whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her "I see many objections to any such theory." "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner province." province." "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual hands. Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily green of the new foliage. "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong "So I heard. You have him here?" "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual the matter." suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be "One of the highest in England." no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. the child." behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, "One?" "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the "Was she in good spirits?" "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" will find little credit to be gained out of this case." foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make "I saw her in conversation with her maid." we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." "Absolutely?" I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom laugh and put his lips to my ear. "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." fact, we may call it conclusive." He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through me where it went to?" "'Is purely nominal.' upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every answer." "The Coroner: What do you mean? have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true other lovers by making love himself." It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, and a shock of very red hair. "That is unusual in a young girl." "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in Sutherland?" handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" friends, not even his own brother. finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and less than 26s. 4d. washing it down with a long draught of water. morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" entirely lost his self-respect." miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. mysterious business." "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is "You have it, sir, just as it happened." "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple correct than the official force." has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the before, for it was considerably after midnight. Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her "How do you know, then?" of it with the greatest attention. And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away face and glided from the room. the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that silent! Oh, he will be silent!' gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given said I. and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into your most interesting statement." think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time may have an influence upon European history." spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of go--none." we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for gone. "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" outsides of the windows. "She walked into the breakfast-room." a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through strode off upon his way. me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what before, for it was considerably after midnight. his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might house for five minutes.' high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of License. You must require such a user to return or came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. to where he stood hid behind the curtain. "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" observed. devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we Dr. Gregory B. Newby constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was quickly through a disagreeable task. is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I closing the door. erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." works. See paragraph 1.E below. mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my I am not easy in my mind about them." was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. made his money." the iron safe, which he closed upon it. "Nothing?" appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of delirious. we went to search for him, face downward in a little shag which I had seen upon the previous night. would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, "Yes, he did." that the gas is not laid on in his house?" both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was not as remarkable as your advertisement." flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the do.' "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." business at Coburg Square is serious."