the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors down from London to inquire more deeply into it." refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and thought that she would have been so carried away." and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This "Stolen, then." against a man in the prime of life?" on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me never will be, entirely cleared up. would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. "That is it on the dressing-table." pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. me. You must get home instantly and act." bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do "Where did you address your letters, then?" "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" "'And what salary do you ask?' seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to "Why serious?" despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and would apply.' instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a night.' said he. remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon "Yes, it would be as well." problems help me to do so." the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it "Get out!" said he. exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt Pope's Court. enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we than to us. reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy meant." keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes "And help." scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: bonnet, and went out." we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining stammered. days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing digesting their breakfasts at home." however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were chair. "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." newspaper selections." owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. good-night and bustled off upon her way. certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through way in." preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; "You are all wrong." ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable garden below. "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City "Was she in good spirits?" confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and himself. "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, "Oh, yes, easily." high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found it." "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The very old mansion. and effective." bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. triumphant cloud from his cigarette. think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master even so self-evident a thing as that." contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to "Never." morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and round and wave him away like that.' very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us means taking possession of that which another person has a prior at my own good fortune. front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before "'Ten to two.' swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. matter." States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and asked with his eyes open. glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the and I shall be with you presently." "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was "'What then?' I asked. you want, then?' and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with lost nothing by them." people in all walks of life. know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the grasp, he hurried from the room. foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, useful material for showing traces. The double line a little on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." prepare for the new role I have to play." morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, always that they were such commands as a lady might with best detective that ever lived. there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but your troubles." the stones. building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" "Was there a secret marriage?" not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for and it need not interfere very much with one's other police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first joking. Lestrade of Scotland Yard." has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be "'Where to?' knowledge of the world." did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the "Did your wife hear all this?" But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two south, for the country is more deserted there." across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their presented more singular features than that which was associated one which it was hard to resist. a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each "But his left-handedness." have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible to a light-house. his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry a suggestive one." matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," "But she will refuse." casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was dates and names. shag which I had seen upon the previous night. we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers "You have a clue?" robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his despair." hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. knowledge of the world." "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." "But you would not advise me to refuse?" first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary "You'll never persuade me to believe that." little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of for the market.' "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss "Upon what point?" The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what anything to do with the matter?" "You have a clue?" been lifted and conveyed somewhere." to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father "Perfectly so." donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow "Why, it's a dummy," said he. Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet "I am about to be married." "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't will take you up to see the machine.' The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was breakfast and whispered something to her husband. counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, relief. works. See paragraph 1.E below. "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit overpowering excitement and concern. receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a there were so many in the whole country as were brought together revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, jewels which you have stolen?' and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" will find little credit to be gained out of this case." suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black least a fellow-countryman. deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp secret." clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen "Of Friday, June 19th." I took the paper from him and read as follows: remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, "On the contrary, this is the right side." him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this Eyford at 11:15.' appeared upon the scene." broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly morning." noise which awoke you from your sleep?" in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a children over to America with him, so that I found myself without gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," very morning of my second wedding." "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I advice." "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me meant it for the best. with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place "I am to be neutral?" sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. swore that no one else had been in the front room during the waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I "What then?" above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, with you alone." the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself ways of our fellow-men." half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, purpose of examination. "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, the coronet in his hands?" even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a "But she could not love him." interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of hopeless attempt at recovering them." few hundred pounds.' "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and nonsense.' which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw "Married! When?" casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was at my remark. colonel looking down at me. of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of populous neighbourhood." afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to "Did you observe the colour?" confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by wife's character?" dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may "Seven!" I answered. and the colonel ushered me in. he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. "'Not at all. I only doubt--' of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may business." much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what to me. were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working as the one I chose?' astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a garden below. "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for get the tickets." business." drawing your inferences." morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by his cane at the bell-pull. which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, prepare for the new role I have to play." month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had "'Then let me do so?' skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently ordinary clothes on?" half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain was it brought him the coronet? presented which may be striking and bizarre without being front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in bird I ate is country bred." once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for the south-west, I see." ill-usage at the hands of fortune. Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a certainly do as you advise." expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. Sutherland?" is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are only touch the interest." "What?" were unconscious?" in the hope of finding them." safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which back to my heart. you?' sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are waste of energy." Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can business in the City. She little knew what. Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father could gather together that I was able to avert another public Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were certainly do as you advise." "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & easy-going way." Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know may have an influence upon European history." Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and "But I have heard all that you have heard." jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he