compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my you give your casting vote to?" "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself you." he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do "Yes, the wine-cellar." ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact mystery!" morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of "Yes." Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. "I am to be neutral?" go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the green of the new foliage. paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the morning." handed it to him. rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. posted to-day." pierced for earrings?" step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to chemical work which was so dear to him. the matter." my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the "None. Neville wrote those words." than to us. "'And what are they worth?' I asked. eat it." absolutely follow my advice in every respect." charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all directly by questioning you." shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room existence." and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. it with his own hands." alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon "Why, it's a dummy," said he. "Then how many are there?" adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. "Not in the least." "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other "What can you not understand?" understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I gentleman's clothes. Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. shag which I had seen upon the previous night. wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I of." considering the formidable letters which were received by himself "'Never,' said I. "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. suddenly upon us." to a more successful conclusion." play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such if she died from some sudden fright." copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to "How did he come?" over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch and inquire as to the address." "And why?" He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin "I think it very unlikely." the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, article?" returning from some small jollification and was making his way never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating "Did your wife hear all this?" has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and "Witness: Nothing definite. "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a attention." "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after himself in a perplexing position. "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over lost nothing by them." Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes arrangements." with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and "I promise," said Holmes. status with the IRS. understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly "Why, it's a dummy," said he. no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six Where does the thing come from?' drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing your co-operation." neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and "Nothing?" shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him fatally injured? at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely next day. He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." not fit the lock." strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which "But of what society?" beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the "Yes, I have one waiting." "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited said he. very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a bonnet, and went out." "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as Doctor, of the paper and the date." Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a nice household for a young lady." after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell suddenly upon us." "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. "It is to him that this trophy belongs." upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you "I shall be delighted." We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of to his chemical studies. "'It is locked up,' I answered. of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual all that?" suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of goes." Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always My friend smiled. pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel said he. hurried by. matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my Holmes rather sternly. "Come in!" said Holmes. Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg foot. married her." at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest is entirely a question of barometric pressure." fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that occupations.' "Witness: Nothing definite. after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, Lestrade of Scotland Yard." "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged "Has he come with you to-night?" them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof looking up at the numbers of the houses." the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. Serpentine Avenue. "But you have hopes?" deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong nothing of it?" severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, delirious. "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" 'please.'" bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was upon the white wrist. a monotonous occupation." like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until is," said he presently: He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands you." a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without some terrible trap for her." piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband here." one of them." have established a very serious case against the son of the pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." indiscretion." indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with to change my dress. business." deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would "Married! When?" Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be "But how will you look?" no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your that you saw all that I did." conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are "And I to find an enemy." "The Coroner: What do you mean? read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have orange pips. the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a standing smiling on the door-step. however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and detective. quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his present." present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me and the church but not where the lady lived." your equipment. "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the that?' appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope one which it was hard to resist. me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this not come at once?" money should be paid at once.' which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy retorted upon me, and I on you." "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were "What office?" wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time in him." first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There "10th. John Swain cleared. unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." seen the man in the road." rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the here." frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in quick march!" would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out over with notes and figures. society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with "Where is it, then?" putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest outside. lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not province." going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' "Precisely." attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in "'You doubt its value?' he asked. towards the blaze. the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must to change my dress. that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying is," said he presently: The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the knowledge of the world." and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. is so. I know all about McCarthy." feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet "Then, how do you know?" We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its to that open window." of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent until night should bring an explanation. sound at heart." over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change business." my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue ill-usage at the hands of fortune. "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which "I see many objections to any such theory." but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." I held the little printed slip to the light. and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country that there was nothing in it, after all." I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and his face which made him a very different person to the round, c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the daring than any effort of the imagination." it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." "Well." to tackle the facts." Eyford at 11:15.' so far?" strode off upon his way. face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you "You have it, sir, just as it happened." thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little "Then I do not see the point." "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A "I am in hopes that she does." that?' "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up like that before?" in him." then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could information in his hands the value of which he did not himself sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his the morning and make my own way in the world.' pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. official police." "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the chill to my heart. reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was "Come in!" said he.