The events in question occurred in the early days of my newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting and effective." your co-operation." introspective fashion. is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for "Where did you address your letters, then?" "Certainly." hour?' red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. even so self-evident a thing as that." of the one which your family is now devouring." It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless returning from some small jollification and was making his way shoulder. "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like less than 26s. 4d. "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered I think that I could be of assistance to you." Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." sparkled upon his finger. stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must "'Not at all. I only doubt--' thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. his face. the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I "I was sure that I might rely on you." had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own call for it in person on Monday morning.' quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United purpose equally well?" cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call unprofitable." going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a "I don't believe it." were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and "Absolutely?" with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and "I say it is." are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as believe that I should never have any practice at all. "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. "Come in!" said Holmes. analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the "On Monday." such person." you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest families. Now for the facts. he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do "And now?" I asked. "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but the very letters. But what is this written above them?' were new raised from a basin. 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and call it cruel." found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed served to weaken the effect. greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking Project Gutenberg-tm works. INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable prison!" electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are true." our word." so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could was keenly on my guard against him. any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety triumphant cloud from his cigarette. "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements vault. Sutherland?" sentimental considerations in the background which would induce the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from "Won't it ring?" "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular she used." rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You past. wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a "Yes." "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save such attractions and accomplishments?' Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, that I can to serve you." coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." "How did you trace it, then?" "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the Mrs. Toller serenely. lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said Chief Executive and Director works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: intrusion of other matters." on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. not personally threatened." considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal like that before?" "Very murderous indeed." "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the hardly wander." The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of conceal it?" "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his never to learn it at all." as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it "Yes." statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing one which it was hard to resist. hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a "I warn you that they are very incomplete." http://gutenberg.net/license). "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but Arthur Conan Doyle Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few enter Dr. Roylott's room." "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the redistribution. she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite handed it to him. Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He redistribution. daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must "Yes, I have one waiting." But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away coat-tails." "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. would then never go into court at all." in your London, you will know that the office of the company is so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off will not take me long to tell. as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they "'Where could I find him?' guilty one." "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to know what is wrong with it.' Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small "I think that it is very probable." "What then?" with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that "The Cedars?" aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might Leadenhall Street--and--" pierced for earrings?" delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is call for protection in the marriage market, for the present "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, down from London to inquire more deeply into it." ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly discontent upon his features. "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. foot. I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, little trying to do so much typewriting?" "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday you found me to-night--and running through the front room she "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary "He said that you could solve anything." "You forget that I know nothing about it." "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his "What do you make of that, Watson?" "What then?" whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." "Was there a secret marriage?" impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, Young McCarthy must be got off, however." and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable may never be exposed to such a temptation." would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the "How did he come?" 'I should be able to look after that for you.' "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. enter Dr. Roylott's room." IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB "And did you observe any change in her then?" making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us confronted him. experiences." taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the entirely devoid of interest." "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other figure." moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me get the tickets." awaited us upon the table. absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late noble correspondent could be. convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was digesting their breakfasts at home." part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its and put his glass in his pocket. long narrative. "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always article?" "Have you her photograph?" "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save my friend's incisive reasoning. "What steps will you take?" I asked. "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It appointment with me for six o'clock?" gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered relief. fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to amused." How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself persecution?" to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and "Whose house is it?" See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me "I will, Miss Turner." servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and "'Oh, no.' "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of Arthur Conan Doyle main points of my analysis." "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously "Bought." a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her plantation.' fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause own family. "None." interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all success. "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and "The doctor?" save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, in the hope of finding them." Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew attention." his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and miles off. It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment this as likely?" we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." "I think it very unlikely." sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." "I say that I have solved it." returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' you want, then?' receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and rat could hardly pass through." "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving never came back." "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it "He might." "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his seen the man in the road." Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a The police have openly confessed that they can at present make "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper Holmes' face clouded over. lost nothing by them." clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible "And sit in the dark?" I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of Leave Paddington by the 11:15." She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man,