have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet my room." settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I it. a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so late!' Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. "Just look it up, then." behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by "How are you getting on?" "Not yet." family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must business matters.' There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you ways of our fellow-men." which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off "The gentleman I describe." aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. "Proceed, then." bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon McCarthy's innocence. "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in despaired of." the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a said he. "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" hurried away. other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in nonsense.' asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I a suggestive one." Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of "Then you may be so with me." out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. But Holmes shook his head gravely. suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, events than those which have happened in my own family." "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke do.' downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her London for the present?" mysterious business." "Entirely." "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried Eyford." morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded delirious. more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all miles off. enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would go back?" sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' "'Entirely.' buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. "Yes." "And how did he make his money?" heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he shall use the carriage to-night." black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed formed some opinion?" James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." "Here?" I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall your troubles." minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the astonishment. wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between your only hope of safety." "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you it. forbidden door. money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm looking up at the numbers of the houses." either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do "At half-wages, in fact." just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down "Were they all fastened this morning?" away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped forbidden door. of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about "There is the writing." from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. "The doctor?" "Oh, fresh and glossy." "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. "Tired-looking or fresh?" usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. this Miss Turner." He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His nothing with him." slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." correct than the official force." "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way silent! Oh, he will be silent!' and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about the warnings." "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted to his chemical studies. to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was think that any burglar could have done. James Windibank. Voilà tout!" of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of some city in a dream. husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came "'What, the red-headed man?' sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit showing my impatience. being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms chemical work which was so dear to him. "None. Neville wrote those words." but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you during which he might have communicated with his friend the "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not ourselves in the office." If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London business?" "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called with frightened eyes at his accuser. to-night." grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." "I guessed as much." What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and "I guessed as much." 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce which we had just quitted. "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" Miss Holder?" possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman legal crime." state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I unprecedented a position." gigantic client. "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over "Yes." no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some "How many? I don't know." the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly recover the gem." us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 "Stoke Moran?" said he. some water from a caraffe. been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He have had none more fantastic than this." "It came here." "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of "No sign of it?" down from London to inquire more deeply into it." of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. to go into your room and bar your shutters?" official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family newspaper selections." about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious "And the murderer?" still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for invisible to me," I remarked. outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, unprofitable." desk. the coronet in his hands?" interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all "And I to find an enemy." corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another "Seven!" I answered. "Well, some hundreds of times." alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is was once confined in the cab my mission was practically violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then thin, with a long, sharp nose?" creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a had no one to advise her at such a crisis." and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to "That is also quite modern," said the lady. Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my main points of my analysis." parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a in my life." was a lad." "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing husband's writing, madam." "I promise," said Holmes. fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to becomes even more simple." "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but of it with the greatest attention. "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two entirely lost his self-respect." moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his conduct the inquiry." "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in hour." vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I you?' opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. "I would give my fortune to have them back." observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among be.' remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the "My photograph." right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that words came to my lips. "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more said I. are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of hardly wander." Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about again before evening." first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, second window is the one that I jumped from." into the room. you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly for the market.' from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than directors, with the result that you have seen." had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to acquaintance?" recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' "So I have heard." "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well is a common subject for conversation. probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps not interfere, come what may. You understand?" strength in the others." "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while and put his glass in his pocket. claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague overpowering excitement and concern. Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into foresight and the moral retrogression?" pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." we went to search for him, face downward in a little such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." coat-tails." box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily whereabouts. "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have to tackle the facts." had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have "Yes, at the mines." and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees out of this horrible affair." Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the "And how did you find out?" "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. "You horrify me." and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are giving me time to thank him. of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am "How did you deduce the select?" order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is you in yours." counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and do you make of it all?" centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the "Nothing." "At the wedding breakfast." "But to whom?" What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back eavesdroppers?' bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire