belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay could gather together that I was able to avert another public envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons "My stepfather's business papers." work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked "Very. But will he see it?" have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. good for you to do.' "Was he the only applicant?" Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before points to suicide?" "My dear Holmes!" But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those "And it is--" "I cannot tell." "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of "On your arm?" shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what Street. what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people "What have you to say now?" Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled will take you up to see the machine.' should be taken.' photograph?" gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms whatever might befall. am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, What do you deduce from it?" Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper "I think that I had better go, Holmes." the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have Watson," he said cordially. "Ah, but I was recommended to you." whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few wanted for ourselves." comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. figure." "Yes." "And from a noble client?" the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have http://gutenberg.net/license). for and were ordered to this address. "Seven!" I answered. was a loud and authoritative tap. matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should power." greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for as yours." him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old where we are going." that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could there was no need for father to know." the tragedy. is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not "Have you it here?" "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have "Entirely." minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any "Here?" the bed, and you in that chair." time." "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. "My dear Holmes!" The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and crowd. "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by someone who had been in Australia." keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how The police have openly confessed that they can at present make before the coroner and the police-court." own family. will he say when he returns?" 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my "Witness: It was. round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things the address that was given us in the advertisement. as he folded up the epistle. there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the amused." upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim "Her father is very rich?" behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend arms and began to sob in a high treble key. the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man "Of Friday, June 19th." "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. stood on the top of it. invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." said he. forehead. "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps and put his glass in his pocket. "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was suggested at once that there must be a communication between the a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her that before taking the final step I should like to submit the man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea "Very murderous indeed." this as likely?" had picked up in the wood. say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." shall not find me ungrateful." The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events deduce something from that?" quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the married her." at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an national property. I was determined that the law should have its Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. envelope. wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully my secret was safe in his possession. when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast "It is very kind of you." France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for and the whole place is in a blaze." papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a case before our client came into the room." the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. with you alone." expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have "But how will you look?" important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. and laid it on the table. beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any own family. points to suicide?" details should find their way into the papers. Inspector "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them "And I to find an enemy." The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies "It was a confession," I ejaculated. "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the of the way of danger. "But how?" decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." goes." grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive of a light. "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." before the coroner and the police-court." the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the to a light-house. "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders death." was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the papers on the sundial.'" at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no suddenly upon us." Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' "No, I think that I'll take it." member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations "Then I do not see the point." It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is "One horse?" interjected Holmes. morning." then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of shoulder; "he's all right." "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich he died? the best of training." to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, "Who by?" have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither he bowed and left the room without another word. "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." off." thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been you understand?" "Now, then, what's the last entry?" "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three "What! You do not mean bodies?" and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock done what I asked you, Jones?" unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course client, rising. really the only notable feature about the thing." merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend time." reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. "'Where could I find him?' process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let could gather together that I was able to avert another public "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is good-night and bustled off upon her way. Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss entirely devoid of interest." "Was your sister dressed?" to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his "But how did you gain them?" January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to six. Come in!" "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him "But she will refuse." unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course clang of the bell. "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and this Miss Turner." details." having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal "Holmes, the busybody!" "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner McCarthy's innocence. complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord case before our client came into the room." from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." extraordinary contortions. window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. "Yes." Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several upon the sideboard." who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided into the room. "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two "It came here." grasp, he hurried from the room. As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic "But of what society?" foresight and the moral retrogression?" stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it which was all perfectly true. glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am "And when will you call?" Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' new duties?' which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire at once, for I have only half an hour." gone before you can get him to hospital." lumber-room." Stoke Moran." gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to "Was there a secret marriage?" "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in the inner apartment." receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight completely overtopped every other consideration that we both see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking "How often?" so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a never will be, entirely cleared up. along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the "One of his hands." that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith it? Did I buy the geese off you?" "'I have heard so.' forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the recover the gem." the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect think that any burglar could have done. "But I am all in the dark." his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was in his power. unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie?