that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or and put his glass in his pocket. "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months which it had come upon my father." "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. "To ruin me." other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was head. So long, then!" Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and such attractions and accomplishments?' "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings "What steps will you take?" I asked. "Well, but China?" the matter?" I am not easy in my mind about them." "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. nothing of it?" knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly yourselves in at night?" your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the depend upon my doing so.' "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, your billet.' "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, "And your father? Did you tell him?" "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to "Very well, sir. And this stone?" He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached may have an influence upon European history." "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it "Yes?" works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the "I warn you that they are very incomplete." "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, situation." from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the "Was she in good spirits?" happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my really the only notable feature about the thing." for securing the situation." second window is the one that I jumped from." the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself business matters.' is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from knowledge of the world." glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer the station." play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but you." compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I hard-headed British jury." computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by back to my heart. that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, of this gang." "That also I could fathom." "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. question you as to those details which seem to me to be most confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be "But how?" "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the "Nor running a chance of arrest?" against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, "I was mad--insane." gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the tension within him. and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such seen the man in the road." but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There one or two very singular points about this room. For example, least a fellow-countryman. "And how?" adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the place no limit on the sum I may draw." say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, companion. rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." presented more singular features than that which was associated it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second entirely lost his self-respect." reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove whatever might befall. started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my all that?" "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom threw himself down with his face to the pillow. "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her four million human beings all jostling each other within the Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that "One of the highest in England." bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm Chief Executive and Director grasp, he hurried from the room. were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There which we had just quitted. will not take me long to tell. the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all "Did your wife hear all this?" "But it has twice been burgled." all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we to talk it over. I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no frequently gained my first real insight into the character of "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the held up the lantern and gazed about him. deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed "It's nothing of the kind." into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger forehead. least a fellow-countryman. "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we I approached. apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to "Pray let us have it, for all that." "And how have you succeeded?" "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right the house with me." neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little highroad, where all traces were lost. "And sit in the dark?" left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as mystery." "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I down. demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into of the vacancies.' room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the neither fascinating nor artistic." as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project face and glided from the room. surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled the iron safe, which he closed upon it. had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an exactly what you advise." constraint." to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat said I. certainly not very gracious." Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." to tackle the facts." and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already sparkled upon his finger. "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." "Well." vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which it." whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, chair. "What have you done?" asked Holmes. high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one "Well, some hundreds of times." unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of "And Miss Sutherland?" your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, fattened it expressly for you.' disappearance of these gems?" was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an "'About the same.' "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be six. Come in!" 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was "Married! When?" realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or pity, because in other respects you would really have done very Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I correct than the official force." drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had in one or two places in England?' "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an events than those which have happened in my own family." you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of "Come in!" said he. call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six "'Is 4 pounds a week.' decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could matters immensely." face and glided from the room. as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to off." finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, "Witness: It was. Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." Arthur Conan Doyle "'Tell me all about it,' said I. means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped investigation." "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual "Nothing?" "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was voice, changing her seat as requested. beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the "Absolutely none." "'Yes, it was gone.' "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday of campaign. "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." "But what will you do?" of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like letters?" "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a "Have you her photograph?" I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what bearing upon the case." undoubtedly my uncle's." in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we all-comprehensive glances. "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet "I will get her to show me." given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was events, Mr. Windibank!" as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, guilty one." "Yes, it was twisted." interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. your only hope of safety." "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent Holmes. quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his thin legs towards the fire. "Of what day?" impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of wife's character?" half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable the coronet in his hands?" McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a business at Coburg Square is serious." "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he useful material for showing traces. The double line a little were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and exactly what you advise." time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. "It must be recovered." less than 26s. 4d. slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers signal between you and your father? and laid it on the table. "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand galvanised. Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when since then to throw any light upon what became of him." said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had "Yes." "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the London for the present?" inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones certainly do as you advise." had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a foresight and the moral retrogression?" Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and furiously. "My own seal." the matter." "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight highroad, where all traces were lost. stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, mysterious business." he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" chamber." idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his late!' Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little "I have hopes." determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always and the church but not where the lady lived." married her." note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. James Windibank. Voilà tout!" face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. "He is still with you, I presume?" gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was