very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he strange features which were associated with the two crimes which man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from had no one to advise her at such a crisis." "'What do you call purely nominal?' Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have 1.F. "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and feature." "I say that I have solved it." casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular this Miss Turner." fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the to tackle the facts." which was all perfectly true. maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, waste of energy." to affect your life." woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm Watson," he said cordially. "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. your billet.' "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to coat-tails." "She will not sell." be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" events, Mr. Windibank!" in a very precise fashion." to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never the coronet in his hand?" "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I place no limit on the sum I may draw." "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly Mary, has deserted me." the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their "It must be recovered." "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my "I was sure that I might rely on you." it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. presume?" "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney visitors." "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I "And how did he make his money?" in this way: absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia possible that we could bring him back to her? ways of our fellow-men." red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been redistribution. Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and "Were they all fastened this morning?" triumphant cloud from his cigarette. "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he he bowed and left the room without another word. you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. spare." good for you to do.' "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in letters?" Street. "None. Neville wrote those words." to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of yourselves in at night?" which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the second window is the one that I jumped from." "'How far from the body?' once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which "Pray let us have it, for all that." "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good rose-bushes. my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low "But she will refuse." such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I whether it answered to the description of any of their vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, "In the cells." his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window sake, don't!" upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party to-night's adventure." room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated made his money." "What can you not understand?" drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and and no precautions can guard against." "Was he the only applicant?" Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had written. that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I waste of energy." as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden constraint." the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands about here speaks of his kindness to him." Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, depend upon my doing so.' will he say when he returns?" have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal his knees, staring into the fire. in this way: which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he The King stared at him in amazement. any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in dear old homesteads?" the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other over here." old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the examination of the premises, but without finding anything which "Whose house is it?" "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch "Yes, at the mines." quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my "She told me to ask you." any." registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, "In San Francisco, a year ago." with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words "But what will you do?" fish-monger and a tide-waiter." suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised in one or two places in England?' instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for "But it has twice been burgled." however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when go from here to the Strand." "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way "'No, I know no one in these parts.' perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. prison!" Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not "Pray do so." He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any chamber." there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. the salesman. in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of spark where all is dark to me." to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and not personally threatened." shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and "The vanishing of the lady." up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here "It was a confession," I ejaculated. we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months "To the police?" "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black use an arc-and-compass breastpin." "Which are?" to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and "I know where it is." "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of "Whose house is it?" "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker ways including including checks, online payments and credit card the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of newspaper selections." business came to an end." you do it in twenty minutes!' The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in dates and names. he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon I held the little printed slip to the light. some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I standing smiling on the door-step. advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was kind enough to tell me what I should do." is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, call for protection in the marriage market, for the present annoyance, but no jest. "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would It may be so in this case, also." "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must business?" what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the "Very much so." wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a is now desirous of getting those letters back." master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything people in all walks of life. "How often?" Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" Foundation All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy weigh very heavily upon my conscience." elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out The summons was a brief and urgent one. "What is it, then--a fire?" "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. "Were they all fastened this morning?" From what you have told me I think that it is possible that he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on "What have you done?" asked Holmes. individual and becomes the badge of a society." careless servant girl?" be sorry for having acted so harshly." what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." Pope's Court. stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I "Deserted you?" gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a obstinate." bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence conclusions. which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She his grey eyes. you, my dear young lady?' "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." "I was sure that I might rely on you." charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on there." ventilator." table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears them?" bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I "And how?" "'You doubt its value?' he asked. ventilator." Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at lost nothing by them." "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the which should have the effect of calling the attention of the father's place of business?" upon an income of about 60 pounds." It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had house for five minutes.' that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious Henry Baker is a member." have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, the so-precious time, but come!' not within a twentieth part of the market price." settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was and wait." another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather "No, I think that I'll take it." "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers anything to do with the matter?" Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent events than those which have happened in my own family." "Yes." direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but again, where I was soon asleep. you do it in twenty minutes!' "In what way?" asked Holmes. remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to spark where all is dark to me." Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. present strange and interesting features that it is no easy "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his father's young wife. The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, recover the gem." preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached was it brought him the coronet? if only as a check to my own memory." But Holmes shook his head gravely. a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this will not take me long to tell. to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do