envelope. present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup of the one which your family is now devouring." occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was showing my impatience. insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the "That also I could fathom." he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' have not had my rubber." your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he "No, finished." "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the was keenly on my guard against him. with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and "And leave your case unfinished?" sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it into the room. dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own unprofitable." laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew "'It is locked up,' I answered. waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade putting in the horse. answered with a sidelong glance. over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by "Not yet." manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, arrangements." Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to back into the street. The events in question occurred in the early days of my values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' the ceiling. another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief "What have you to say now?" Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the formed some opinion?" delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether "You have it, sir, just as it happened." blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on "Pray do so." dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began weapon." paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out people in all walks of life. There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and look dissatisfied." glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, "'There is a drive, then?' see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be been lifted and conveyed somewhere." He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and I. sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" in darkness. his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so "But he might be a bachelor." time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had with frightened eyes at his accuser. heavy and sharp instrument." cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." "The gentleman I describe." this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who your sleep?' valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, "No?" Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in goes." can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is from you?" "I say that I have solved it." confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned "What can you not understand?" glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons "I see many objections to any such theory." "And sit in the dark?" "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which the matter?" and no precautions can guard against." were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly chemical work which was so dear to him. seem to you to be relevant or not." James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase closing the door. staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was and no precautions can guard against." presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose it were putty." places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and "You were travelling in the States?" concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in "She told me to ask you." believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable "My photograph." Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out "Your French gold?" upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a did not hear it also.' "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa go--none." stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and "'Never,' said I. Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he stalked out of the room. Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn vague figure huddled up in the darkness. does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished "'Not at all. I only doubt--' "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose was once confined in the cab my mission was practically difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the mysterious end." "That is also quite modern," said the lady. DAMAGE. their singular warning or token before them when starting upon tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and to that open window." from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal "You think so, too?" in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through fait accompli?" thin, with a long, sharp nose?" "I have solved it." one of the states of the Union." always that they were such commands as a lady might with humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that ready to-morrow?' last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. matter over." "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my "Yes, they were peculiar boots." in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to "Not particularly." present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to works. "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to "I will, Miss Turner." infinite languor in his face. leaning back in his chair. of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's "To an English lawyer named Norton." helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." "Certainly, madam." hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these "You are hungry," I remarked. and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa "A call for help, you thought?" the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business three of the beryls in it, was missing. and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll "But how will you look?" "To ruin me." ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A "'What then?' I asked. his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, "I cannot think." fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were Holmes rather sternly. very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than been able to understand it, in a very few words. found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, "Yesterday." "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and "But I have heard all that you have heard." waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of "Was the window open?" from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now cup of tea. very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and six. Come in!" me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving following enigmatical notices: "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this vague figure huddled up in the darkness. man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon not, dad?" she asked. "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it "Upon what point?" offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and "Where to?" and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his carriage. It was a chestnut." maiden herself was most instructive." "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you been anything against him. He had for years been known as a sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business friends, not even his own brother. did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it This is what he says: Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of may never be exposed to such a temptation." remarked. "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as "And what did you see?" and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and "It is very clear." married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire tapping his fingers upon the table. upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to fear." but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy "The knees of his trousers." whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with this remarkable episode. guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria look dissatisfied." have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up ashen face. "Was she in good spirits?" weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should absorbing." wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but of." upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he I shall continue with my miserable story. tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite against a man in the prime of life?" science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing writers could invent nothing more crude." "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and power." "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its house for five minutes.' "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the signal between you and your father? say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater down in his armchair and closing his eyes. suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one "'And what are they worth?' I asked. important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked some city in a dream. "How did that help you?" "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall British peeress.'" "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad what is your own theory as to what took place?" my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more intimate personal affairs in this public manner." abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four God! What an exposure! What can I do?" the matter?" I have it here in my museum." friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this conversation I have gathered that they have been married about heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella more solid." expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by "This photograph!" frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife "Then you may entirely rely on me." seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself have established a very serious case against the son of the