chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded it right.' in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. Pope's Court, Fleet Street." own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and "But how did you gain them?" ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." goes." "In which, sir?" "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." allusion to a rat. on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the putting in the horse. already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried distinguish the words: was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly house for five minutes.' was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in page at http://pglaf.org hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon shag which I had seen upon the previous night. papers must be those that are destroyed.' "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my during that time.' my former friend and companion. "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in "That is easily got." so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I indeed which he could not unravel. broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a next day. the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of "No sign of it?" the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. "Well, some hundreds of times." engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our friends, not even his own brother. betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and nonsense.' do.' the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit troubles have been weighing upon his mind. receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical "Yes." "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." Eyford." down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a "Ample." him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the a few minutes he said that it would be all right. "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a during which he might have communicated with his friend the the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and "I should be immensely obliged to you." case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across some mystery and the punishment of some crime." for its centre. time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in "The best possible." great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, troubles have been weighing upon his mind. Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the goes." brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she not interfere, come what may. You understand?" to-night?' hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would "And now?" He raised his hand. head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out "Could he throw no light?" houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the page at http://pglaf.org never to learn it at all." my former friend and companion. certainly do as you advise." his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening your room." "Stoke Moran?" said he. could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly nothing with him." "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar in one or two places in England?' which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that should be so warm over such a trifle." "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock way in everything. their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of persecution?" "Then I shall certainly come." hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this papers must be those that are destroyed.' Sholtos." for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" call you and give you the chance." breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, manager. "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." the ceiling. right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was "Nor running a chance of arrest?" "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." furiously. that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not Pool. "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called me where it went to?" made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely "What! You do not mean bodies?" it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the felt?" "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had down in his armchair and closing his eyes. a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we telegram would bring me down to your help." and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain bore every mark of being an average commonplace British "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard "Imitated." counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. know that the truth is known." were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five Lee, in the county of Kent." correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the once more for Briony Lodge. all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I "Then, how do you know?" "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and shadow pass over his face as I spoke. I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the "And your father? Did you tell him?" about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but "Is he quiet?" papers." imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country this unhappy family?" "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was crackling voice. "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and hardly wander." "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress http://www.gutenberg.net "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." bachelor.' my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by "You saw the ventilator, too?" prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the "Tired-looking or fresh?" eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter "Yes, all." "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of Munro.' eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after undoubtedly my uncle's." might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me "'What do you call purely nominal?' the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." becomes even more simple." "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of to a more successful conclusion." forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no "Game for a morning drive?" it." Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with "The Coroner: What do you mean? It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever meant." "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of burst out into a roar of laughter. our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and nothing of it?" "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round "Pray be precise as to details," said he. "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon "I have my revolver," said I. way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then existence." from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic was once confined in the cab my mission was practically And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this out of this horrible affair." "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's felt?" left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made "But how could you guess what the motive was?" expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." followed. have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was business." "The Coroner: What do you mean? direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us have been better. It is all right." "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the upon an income of about 60 pounds." "None." "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a prisoner's face. I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." address. neither fascinating nor artistic." weigh very heavily upon my conscience." know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had "I am to be neutral?" preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut "So it appears." very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church his face which made him a very different person to the round, indiscretion." "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I and it need not interfere very much with one's other "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. Pool. unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless presented which may be striking and bizarre without being follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself better grown goose." out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" power." have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and system of imprisonment?" was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle your co-operation." be sorry for having acted so harshly." approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" vague figure huddled up in the darkness. building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father "How can you tell that?" "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." it with his own hands." half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my "You are hungry," I remarked. perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite think you a quite exceptional woman." coat-tails." "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room point in the dark hollow of his hand. morning." fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms morning." "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. from the brougham. do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no brain must have something in it." "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every sufficient punishment." "This photograph!" does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm the coronet in his hand?" fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There