This is what he says: at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. "That also I could fathom." other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." 'I should be able to look after that for you.' "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to "The best possible." can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the despaired of." have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed "It is possible." of note-paper. It read in this fashion: quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the have accepted such a situation. particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, troubles have been weighing upon his mind. one of the states of the Union." "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the new acquaintance to Baker Street. and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He "Why? What do you mean?" "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third "But his lameness?" should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both persecution?" at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, less than 26s. 4d. me upon any point which I do not make clear." certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change "By no means." over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up ordinary clothes on?" understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his bled considerably." his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, careless servant girl?" apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the for and were ordered to this address. "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right "It's nothing of the kind." whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or detained." mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" perplexity from it to my illustrious client. disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a did not hear it also.' tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew brandy and water within his reach. with frightened eyes at his accuser. what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away these bleak autumnal evenings." "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' this poor creature." advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a "One of the highest in England." unprofitable." "He said too much." already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of in your London, you will know that the office of the company is "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I trying to your nerves." deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly "They are typewritten," I remarked. "Oh, the cause is excellent!" You can understand that this register and diary may implicate putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in into the bag, and made for the door. "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" success. Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, quickly through a disagreeable task. in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will the salesman. brain must have something in it." to that open window." started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger "What! Had he lost his wife?" her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' fatally injured? Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest when your master had gone out." abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" "No good news?" "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there most interesting one." "'It is locked up,' I answered. came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended back into the street. is," said he presently: me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still brought there to personate someone, and the real person is wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, copied or distributed: her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the "I have a cab outside." "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout "I think it very unlikely." "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet appeal." the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is "Oh, the cause is excellent!" The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, the best of training." the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it "Could he throw no light?" Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his The summons was a brief and urgent one. tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is been with you?" confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The of the vacancies.' the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." went to the Alpha were town bred." to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in your bag." I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into outside." had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows very morning of my second wedding." "I know where it is." Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her even so self-evident a thing as that." "It is half-past ten now." scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." "I shall be delighted." "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few John Swain, of St. Augustine. with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I writers could invent nothing more crude." of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the grasp, he hurried from the room. side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. For additional contact information: Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." which are rolled in Rotterdam." "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am "And Miss Sutherland?" At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and drove away. whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came "Pray do so." need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. test if we have an answer to our advertisement." Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to case-book, which he consulted. skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he at home. right! Sit down and let us talk it over." association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm been shamefully used." beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be "Witness: I must still refuse. bonnet, and went out." man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." and your relations to her." were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is "How about poison?" "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he might help us?" the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to asked. home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out was a lad." "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. your own bird, so if you wish--" and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond towards the blaze. naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a several quiet little villages up there." "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me "Then he might have called to you?" "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is over part of the map. "What do you read?" "We must have a cab." manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the of this gang." He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." shall not find me ungrateful." off." already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed less than 26s. 4d. "Yes, the wine-cellar." met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark "Oh, fresh and glossy." request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A tell them apart.' only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away "No. His orders were to stay in the house." (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project Eyford." "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. to a light-house. It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was "I am to be neutral?" as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged "But it has twice been burgled." laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can the King without delay." "You horrify me." circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and noting anything else of interest. "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you "What I expected to see." "'Which dealer's?' he. The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far populous neighbourhood." and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a "But she will refuse." journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the disappearance of the bride.'" very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an lamp. her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." "Yes, from Horsham." brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly floor. "Is he quiet?" perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend the inquest, and which are worth considering." "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend persecution?" "Ah, but I was recommended to you." look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim "No, I had a dozen." eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to such attractions and accomplishments?' seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw taking in every detail of the apartment. "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, "But how?" as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." "'What then?' I asked. know what is wrong with it.' heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, is four-and-twenty." wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. "You are all wrong." and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with jewels which you have stolen?' misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever forbidden door. commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window what is your own theory as to what took place?" younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. to surprise her." possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no the bed, and you in that chair." was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for of them has the shutters up.' posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are cause to be." extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate "It is true that I have been generally successful." "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America what these perils are?" Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low in darkness. was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to back to my heart. Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who back to my heart. cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that