"And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very lamp. whereabouts. "Then I am your man." remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much troubles have been weighing upon his mind. "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend there when the Rucastles went away." not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the or in danger--" As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy row." "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is "But what harm can there be in that?" that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, was used.' "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular "But you were on a friendly footing?" lumber-room." dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little "The decline of his fortunes, then?" maid will bring up your coffee." about here speaks of his kindness to him." then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may I. "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do I approached. "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already "He disappeared so suddenly." brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she "I think that it is very probable." dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than sake, don't!" "Yes, sir." weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." "I cannot as yet see any connection." distinguish the words: "Never." "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away was used.' Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that other, as fresh and trim as possible. Pool. admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been of." "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, bedroom door." nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my be.' "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the "You are all wrong." Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you me." business at Coburg Square is serious." room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a hardly wander." "No more words. Get out!" making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. "No. His orders were to stay in the house." about here speaks of his kindness to him." relation between them, and what the object of his repeated clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House "And from a noble client?" "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was "Do you receive much company?" he asked. with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able touch that coronet?' room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he perplexity from it to my illustrious client. Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie "I am armed." lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they towards the blaze. contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be "Oh, the cause is excellent!" explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes you?' dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending right! Sit down and let us talk it over." o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of with some details as to your case." always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story said he. the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain national property. I was determined that the law should have its the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were swore that no one else had been in the front room during the doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as "Why, it's a dummy," said he. wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the "'Ten to two.' "'Yes, sir.' that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair to-night's adventure." "Indeed! Whose, then?" fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, there were so many in the whole country as were brought together remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of morning." "But his left-handedness." "Witness: It was. fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece was it brought him the coronet? 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of my secret was safe in his possession. While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly "Then I shall certainly come." shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, populous neighbourhood." Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. "Yes, they were peculiar boots." "Certainly." him!" the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. overpowering excitement and concern. "What, then, did Peterson do?" imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." "Yes?" "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes "Yesterday." swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry believe that I should never have any practice at all. been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. or in danger--" gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have outsides of the windows. delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a "Whose house is it?" prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of Countess of Morcar's?" he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear Dr. Gregory B. Newby detective. "Not in the least." who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate vanished into the darkness. house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," when your master had gone out." knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for "I was sure that I might rely on you." "Where did you address your letters, then?" other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It than to us. should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the Holmes." with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view "'What, the red-headed man?' the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to footfalls from the street. are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." as noiselessly as she had come. and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is Henry Baker is a member." "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an "I shall most certainly do so." room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at over here." as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with mystery!" "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she which I could not give. He asked for Alice. "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under and prosperity to your house. Good-night." guilty one." have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a his eyes and forehead. "Has he come with you to-night?" "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had "Really! You surprise me." "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the British peeress.'" soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of experiences." typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. presented more singular features than that which was associated against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for "At what time?" had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" "Yes, sir." untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; "Quite so. She has her freedom." "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had just called myself is not exactly my own." police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he taking in every detail of the apartment. cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. "And for present expenses?" which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most "It's nothing of the kind." "No." the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your hardly wander." Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits Young McCarthy must be got off, however." fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause less than 26s. 4d. never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps arrested. You then--" strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer and your relations to her." seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in "Well, some hundreds of times." dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me look upon these things in a different way." Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without you." breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect "May I see it?" strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He "Oh, fresh and glossy." strong and stiff." "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon the running down." pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds the south-west, I see." I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against up this clue while it is still hot." enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in she might be summoned. of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, appointment with me for six o'clock?" in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the business." his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this extraordinary contortions. long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and know what is wrong with it.' "And sit in the dark?" for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and than to us. safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for burst out into a roar of laughter. nights." "I fear not." to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The upon a handsome competence. John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug "Then, as to money?" "Very much so." "Because he was handy and would come cheap." "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible "'Never.' tassel actually lying upon the pillow. undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" me, and I could not think that his explanation of the is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew chill to my heart. gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a "You'll never persuade me to believe that." back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." "Did you become engaged then?" is a common subject for conversation. several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. "Yes, he did." "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to "The Coroner: What do you mean? thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady,