to you." American. Then who could this American be, and why should he may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client But Holmes shook his head gravely. once more to my work. *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the "Ha! you find it so?" "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and "It's nothing of the kind." Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face the one as in the other." to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that are windows in it, of course?" questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. Project Gutenberg-tm works. Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it "But what is it you wish?" Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." "About a month then." have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is "When did she vanish, then?" "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his "Precisely." "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found "You are all wrong." of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall was once confined in the cab my mission was practically preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know "If so, much may have happened between." mystery!" the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. if she died from some sudden fright." a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached dear old homesteads?" exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave chemical work which was so dear to him. of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of shall not find me ungrateful." she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a someone who had been in Australia." against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his in your London, you will know that the office of the company is particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for "I was afraid that you were engaged." certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the grasp, he hurried from the room. habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon in his power. "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from "So I am. Very much so." been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and the general public were present, then?" I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which "At half-wages, in fact." this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, "None. Neville wrote those words." you do it in twenty minutes!' there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, "And how did you find out?" surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." "What is it?" to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, "By no means." "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable that I may have something better before very many minutes are without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it "About a month then." her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what "Not yet." "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." and wait." bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which were new raised from a basin. "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly "And what did you see?" "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." "You will not go there first?" "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, *** START: FULL LICENSE *** then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. been with you?" "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me and the colonel ushered me in. "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend most interesting one." with some details as to your case." will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, are windows in it, of course?" "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when Where does the thing come from?' in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. "Yes, it would be as well." waste of energy." not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they ventilator." "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are she might be summoned. Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for "Ha! you find it so?" dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I vanished into the darkness. to affect your life." the loss of it. the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately them?" beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing "I am about to be married." is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was "But what harm can there be in that?" which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner "Will you go?" very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right "Absolutely none." room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open criminal. We have already had experience of such." unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of the station." "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a people don't know." list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper said he. The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE it were putty." present." had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. 1.E.9. can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family "I promise," said Holmes. "It is his hat." has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from best detective that ever lived. "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his "Where, then, is my wife?" "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but new acquaintance to Baker Street. were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's come either from the window or the door. My attention was single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon "'What, the red-headed man?' the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, as he folded up the epistle. morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at hurried by. "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would some terrible trap for her." to-night?" I asked. "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." "I do." to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible "Get out!" said he. "Why, what do you mean?" upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without nothing of it?" from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey of campaign. The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., there!' time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she death." daring than any effort of the imagination." case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to trifles." "Where to?" few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I heavily into it. "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It "Do you receive much company?" he asked. writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from "And for present expenses?" gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made his fortune, and I went back to pa. which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the off." I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set to you." he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my "And that is--" drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his money should be paid at once.' Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and conduct the inquiry." "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime minor matters until to-morrow." to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom think that any burglar could have done. clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is in this note: in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and had a long day." "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was away in different directions, and I went off to make my own deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would "On your arm?" I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. coat-tails." and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The brandy and water within his reach. very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was shaken than I had ever seen him. business matters.' scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel things are very often connected not with the larger but with the "Pray be precise as to details," said he. Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, outside." "Perhaps I have." have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for late!' profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, later, upon the night of May 2nd." "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable place, I think that there is good ground to think that the arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice entirely lost his self-respect." "Where did he live, then?" "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City "You horrify me!" "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the "Then what has happened to him?" "Why did you beat the pavement?" "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me if only as a check to my own memory." morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and be best to do. noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of outbreak?" plantation.' through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; his face which made him a very different person to the round, know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life derbies." deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my you." claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of present." came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the investigation." these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat