succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. Holmes' room. upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the it means?" consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but residence of the great financier. retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." said I. have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward "By train from Waterloo." because she had spent so short a time in this country that she "Quite so. She has her freedom." one of them." former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than the bed, and you in that chair." "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, tightly behind him. ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just is a common subject for conversation. was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. enter Dr. Roylott's room." his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, soul! here is her carriage at the door." that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been "Where, then, is my wife?" ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the your sleep?' gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. crowd. "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right affection." are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss "Did you observe the colour?" the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to could not account in any way for the presence of the missing have I gained?" however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred miles off. his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until "'What, the red-headed man?' "Very truly yours, ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with she used." behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." own family. "He slept on the premises." "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked "It was an hour's good drive." distinguish the words: the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He hair?' "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money "Then I do not see the point." said he. if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I already referred to. voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." threw himself down with his face to the pillow. Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." Gutenberg-tm License. her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would been able to understand it, in a very few words. "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. voice. said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more help us in this matter." a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in "Look there!" said he. "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and "Has he come with you to-night?" the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned garden below. when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father very old mansion. "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well when your master had gone out." of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, "Precisely." Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and to take care of herself." "I guessed as much." our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your questionable one." outside. want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment "'Most admirably.' o'clock is it?" but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his bachelor.' By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with a suggestive one." face and glided from the room. typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence "Yes, all." particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone as noiselessly as she had come. stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. where we are going." "10th. John Swain cleared. read over the extraordinary announcement. Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned husband's writing, madam." "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took comes from the middle window." written, and locked the door of the office after me. will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been "Very much so." ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and waste of energy." believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a away into the river." his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry Holmes." panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." guilty parties." it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then gives a meaning to it." original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up "Then, as to money?" in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. burst into a hearty fit of laughter. "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit burst into a hearty fit of laughter. Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and taking in every detail of the apartment. "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the considering the formidable letters which were received by himself was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of "You have it, sir, just as it happened." he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I Have you good authority for what you say?" "Won't it ring?" his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? way in everything. spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently photograph a cabinet?" danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and "How on earth--" "You heard nothing yourself last night?" and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He "Then I am your man." slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would "'Entirely.' very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, and a shock of very red hair. inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' just ask you whether you had heard it.' habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of "Where, then, is my wife?" "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been memory. there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a "How long did she speak to this Alice?" "And on what day did he meet his death?" Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of "I was mad--insane." by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That "Not in a good cause." named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; into the room. here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the soul! here is her carriage at the door." that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. "Will you bet, then?" over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. "Upon what point?" By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for purpose of examination. not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said a monotonous occupation." for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when "'Yes.' "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy "Pray let us have it, for all that." hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. sparkled upon his finger. "'Yes.' chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet "What! Had he lost his wife?" "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked is a common subject for conversation. Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned business." demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. "My opinion is in no way altered." made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine tail." was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if "But I have heard all that you have heard." "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and "They are typewritten," I remarked. very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. to me. you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she considering the formidable letters which were received by himself "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you comes from the middle window." glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no "No more words. Get out!" mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that "What shall I do?" "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the never came back." quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his to tackle the facts." place, I think that there is good ground to think that the the little opening for the ventilator is." The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man go from here to the Strand." in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of were new raised from a basin. for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it place of silver." make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I better grown goose." whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." "Perhaps I have." her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this him and tried to hold him back. "Nothing." The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had "And on what day did he meet his death?" Chief Executive and Director commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window instincts rose up against that laugh. business?" my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in beg that you will break it off." "My private note-paper." endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure gives a meaning to it." decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots "Of Friday, June 19th." thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to public press." stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the "You horrify me!" gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been to that open window." conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some "You have but to name it." "That you are never beaten." hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer vault. firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very gigantic client. reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit "'In my own bureau.' of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he in this note: Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling "Pray be precise as to details," said he. when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire electronic works moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to said he, "my real name is James Ryder." knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed that?' and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be "No bad?" we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to My friend smiled. conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of the roots. "Pray tell us what has happened to you." public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would himself to hunt down. Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning "I will not look." looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird careless servant girl?" chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, giving me time to thank him. drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all my friend's incisive reasoning. half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth