Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock "Yes, from Horsham." little adventures." "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. "Where, then, is my wife?" later, upon the night of May 2nd." recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice few hundred pounds.' police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the "No, finished." a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able "Where, indeed?" her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of "No, I am descending." 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little mystery!" without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so "Stolen, then." "You saw the ventilator, too?" dead, shall be safe with us." "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it writers could invent nothing more crude." "'Stolen!' he cried. younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to Holmes' thin, eager face. bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I photograph?" would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to My friend smiled. Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." to surprise her." seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the "We must sit without light. He would see it through the would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what out." Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been ill-usage at the hands of fortune. corner of the building. precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not sufficient punishment." the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening States. way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see have not had my rubber." the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these Countess of Morcar's?" we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for province." as noiselessly as she had come. chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for and the church but not where the lady lived." I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a "But how?" events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I "What shall I do?" abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the I was concerned in it." have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. recover the gem." that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But said I. week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" "If I can be of use." "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. come either from the window or the door. My attention was morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began helping a boy to put up the shutters. alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with hair?' house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was as yours." "It looks newer than the other things?" chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which fish-monger and a tide-waiter." Holmes." the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are the warnings." was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a "I cannot tell." read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he certainly do as you advise." harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about the coroner come to?" of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope events, Mr. Windibank!" see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and suddenly upon us." with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat "You heard nothing yourself last night?" him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to ventilator." covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, characteristics, but those are the more obvious." against a man in the prime of life?" expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that "'Oh, no.' too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" existence." passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the in your London, you will know that the office of the company is "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let are, I think, all that we need." affection." had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this distinguish the words: my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those himself. nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now his cane at the bell-pull. "'What would be the hours?' I asked. "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an without a word or a look. in his hands." we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. again before evening." maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband "Very. But will he see it?" of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. "Yes." tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." outsides of the windows. delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. at my remark. "Never to return." TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise digesting their breakfasts at home." the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no The events in question occurred in the early days of my wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold "The landlord of the Alpha." "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. "That sounds a little paradoxical." and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my certainly do as you advise." "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to before the coroner and the police-court." late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which cause to be." southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. ordinary clothes on?" occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get I. wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." "'Which dealer's?' "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could is worth.' which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a lamp in his hand. Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and "I should like to see him very much." "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger enter Dr. Roylott's room." the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted and the colonel ushered me in. association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It do.' door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but tapping his fingers upon the table. the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed "And what then?" which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he should be taken.' evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little "Pray do so." think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and even of instruction." vault. "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking unprofitable." "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." carried out of court." with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." have accepted such a situation. play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than chair. almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or "And your mother is alive?" regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the on re-entering her father's house?" more solid." could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of and prosperity to your house. Good-night." agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." him. have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The the salesman. flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to "Come in!" said he. elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, telegram would bring me down to your help." dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of there were one or two details which were new to me. But the centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at six. Come in!" from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened humiliation." "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If photograph a cabinet?" hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words "I should like to see him very much." your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with of the efforts of the United States government and of the better evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or "'Yes, sir.' and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than knowledge of the world." was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those This is what he says: to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my "Very murderous indeed." propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' hard-headed British jury." same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been "Here?" future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. investigation." confronted him. "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." the very letters. But what is this written above them?' to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and bell. Holmes whistled. as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be "So I have heard." Sutherland. is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he became a certainty. (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without already referred to. "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced "I came to find a friend." horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, so.' "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, "No bad?" not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless events than those which have happened in my own family." The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at approach us with offers to donate. the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, "'Is 4 pounds a week.' "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional "But how?" "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then whole matter to your consideration." "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But matter." had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders Pool. answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a bed dies. Does not that strike you?" "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same Pope's Court, Fleet Street." a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with coroner's jury." with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set "Is he quiet?" feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to light and attacked it." (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that records." more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was "The knees of his trousers." the room while you explain this matter?" ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired there in twenty minutes." straightened it out again. unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his British peeress.'" description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One "Entirely." you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when considering the formidable letters which were received by himself