its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to "I am sure." and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must "My dear Holmes!" "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, national property. I was determined that the law should have its building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a relief. had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The "I have come for advice." fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, success. look upon these things in a different way." "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. it were putty." our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with "I do." "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before intrusion of other matters." there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our "Holmes, the busybody!" "I see no marks." "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly in his power. down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold pictures, libraries, or plate. wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. answer." "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he and that he would see to anything that turned up. has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had you." "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution "Bought." instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will future lives." "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily whatever might befall. himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my "Entirely." his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all colonel looking down at me. "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary second window is the one that I jumped from." "Were they all fastened this morning?" severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to "What will you do, then?" from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my "Breckinridge is his name." slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a occupations.' Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew upon a handsome competence. address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke it." uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover acted in my house last night?" force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in south, for the country is more deserted there." foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any that he has suffered." she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and "But he might be a bachelor." "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture "Then, as to money?" demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of or in danger--" time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from "Then I am your man." would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting have not had my rubber." public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, DAMAGE. "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make better grown goose." "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign breakfast and whispered something to her husband. in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. "My stepfather's business papers." want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken the bottom.' with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. fasten all the windows?" key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a "Then, how do you know?" speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. horse could go." friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter cup of tea. much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of my special province." "'Yes.' whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a would then never go into court at all." when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary "You have compromised yourself seriously." stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary was already answered. suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to if I call to-morrow?" "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family who was a member of your goose club." steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see "Yes, from Horsham." attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing lamp. Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the advice." colour had been driven from his face. before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of "And the cigar-holder?" careless servant girl?" sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, "My dear Holmes!" others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, was used.' gone before you can get him to hospital." eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind "One of his hands." "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had "I think that it is very probable." gigantic client. next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a 'I should be able to look after that for you.' observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's examine." swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." to-night?" I asked. retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. asked. sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." "Very. But will he see it?" The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of "I guessed as much." him and tried to hold him back. 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from were wasted." stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the "Where did he live, then?" the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered my friend's incisive reasoning. has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a opened the door, and slipped through. At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His London for the present?" Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his Munro.' "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. said I. you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned to Leatherhead. pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the in the dead of the night?' soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. page at http://pglaf.org suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." nonsense.' difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing joking. quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a "They are typewritten," I remarked. sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." round and wave him away like that.' "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with "Yes, it would be as well." opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is once more to my work. of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to "No more words. Get out!" purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards redistribution. "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The "He might." England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of nonsense.' security.' name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on situation." "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three later, upon the night of May 2nd." "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the Farm upon the left." There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, suggested at once that there must be a communication between the or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my "It is very kind of you." grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in might help us?" "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the "Very. But will he see it?" "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a "How on earth--" envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing even of instruction." nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and "But what is it you wish?" room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, "And is that all?" reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, conduct the inquiry." your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should a suggestive one." master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered bell. Holmes whistled. other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To not interfere, come what may. You understand?" inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the gone. these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his "Yesterday." hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in this truth that in these little records of our cases which you upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, together. "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. "Ha! you find it so?" said he at last. ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does way in." "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his his fortune, and I went back to pa. "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of "No." sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying more solid." whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, least a most suspicious remark." rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such