coat-tails." green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly desk. "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the companion. telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his business?" confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' of the efforts of the United States government and of the better go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 presume?" even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, "Ten will be early enough." Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. "What then?" snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a out." With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately "What, then, did Peterson do?" problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down the inquest, and which are worth considering." guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that your troubles." About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in were wasted." her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew wedding?" human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the "Yes, sir." have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with strode off upon his way. "What can it mean?" I gasped. after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, "What do you mean?" myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. works. See paragraph 1.E below. might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by "Dark enough and sinister enough." you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the purpose equally well?" "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's "I am still in the dark." thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. God! What an exposure! What can I do?" thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in "Pray do so." "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." is acting for the best. then?" objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him trying to your nerves." authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the "Look there!" said he. your own bird, so if you wish--" "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom way in." peculiar to him. secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls brandy and water within his reach. I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. "At what time?" "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah in the hope of finding them." others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the chance at all." merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I second." "And your mother is alive?" Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us call for protection in the marriage market, for the present time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss some water from a caraffe. I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less have an American origin." lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since "Nothing." "You have a clue?" the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work "Married! When?" "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down "Very murderous indeed." man. I know him from the photograph." into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered of your young ladies.' "A call for help, you thought?" "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important or in danger--" "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears stood on the top of it. other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still both be extremely obliged.' events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great but preventing her from injuring another. great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his details." to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter my special province." on in his house." "How did he come?" the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst cigar and let me expound." "'About the same.' I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for respectable self." "Yes." instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that key of the affair now." the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an hurried away. who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and "You are all wrong." a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece a monotonous occupation." "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and "Dark enough and sinister enough." "'Where could I find him?' gbnewby@pglaf.org hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them certainly do as you advise." woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." we went to search for him, face downward in a little "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and that the gas is not laid on in his house?" who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow to his chemical studies. of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business "How long did she speak to this Alice?" although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another may have an influence upon European history." even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the out of this horrible affair." into the room. "Yes, they were peculiar boots." glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in companion. a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does "I see no marks." five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than fluttered off among the others. danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the chance." For additional contact information: "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some and shall probably return to London by the evening train." matter over." get the tickets." "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler "And your father? Did you tell him?" "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank bachelor.' "Nothing?" elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." beg that you will break it off." Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, certainly not very gracious." "What shall I do?" facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we means taking possession of that which another person has a prior left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's "I cannot say that I have." his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round business?" down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than "In the cells." attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare "But who is he?" McCarthy." just called myself is not exactly my own." He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and that I am arrested." "Who was the criminal, then?" his grey eyes. set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as "How many? I don't know." returned to France?" "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted bare slabs of marble. severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a way: should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest "We must have a cab." leave you to your papers for a little." the stable lane now." "You think so, too?" took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power Again Holmes raved in the air. greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small has little to do with my story." daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for "What can you not understand?" precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, Cross for the Continent." records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and business matters.' insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" "Well." narrative." his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room "Of Friday, June 19th." scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and again on its way. "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in presented which may be striking and bizarre without being "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" husband's writing, madam." spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once generous with you in money matters.' sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a McCarthy's innocence. empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, Mary, has deserted me." rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional you." sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal "You are hungry," I remarked. "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, if I call to-morrow?" rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little could not have written that. It is the German who is so came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, fluttered off among the others. serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they enter Dr. Roylott's room." untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew future lives." "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. "It is solved." the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is father's young wife. late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who awkward doing business with an alias." story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been "None." another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' "Yes." "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good Holmes' thin, eager face. works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would me. You must get home instantly and act." customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" in the hope of finding them." girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the tied." You can understand that this register and diary may implicate round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a from you?" to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master been." "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its dramatic, in fact." eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every the very morning of the wedding." difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery present." advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to