said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had the driver. "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting for its centre. what do you think they found in the pockets?" shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter only touch the interest." house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are six. Come in!" be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." "Do you receive much company?" he asked. looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, and I shall be with you presently." "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a "I think it very unlikely." "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is her also." tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I "'I am sure if I had known--' benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. forebodings. partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that shaken than I had ever seen him. with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch "It is his hat." soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of helping a boy to put up the shutters. "'Tell me all about it,' said I. standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was records." "What, then?" cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is It may be so in this case, also." cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, shoulder; "he's all right." It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander characteristics, but those are the more obvious." "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a to Leatherhead. from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the "Very much so." "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom "You will not go there first?" the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence Leave Paddington by the 11:15." "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. back into the street. "'Ten to two.' for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of pierced for earrings?" "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey "The Cedars?" attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of joking. question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed bill, which interests me deeply." "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, for securing the situation." "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I hardly wander." "No good news?" "I cannot imagine." one or two very singular points about this room. For example, never came back." there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, narrative." this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some "Very well, sir. And this stone?" of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was morning." "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of and have this put in the evening papers." "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary been shamefully used." week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the "Nothing." the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining observed. of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. be there in time for your coming." at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the interested in these little problems, and since you are good "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual now. It seems that there had been some informality about their "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the definite end. "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the delirious. "No. What a strange idea!" go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. not use it unless it is absolutely needed." thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our people don't know." drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows developed." "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was "'Not at all. I only doubt--' light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we go back?" moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. events, Mr. Windibank!" Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to "No, I am descending." admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of outbreak?" can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the of them has the shutters up.' I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our gives a meaning to it." believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his "One?" look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a shaken than I had ever seen him. of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are lumber-room." with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and vanished into the darkness. very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, intimate personal affairs in this public manner." "But what harm can there be in that?" but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" presented which may be striking and bizarre without being other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" people in all walks of life. laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a present." meanly of me." "I would give my fortune to have them back." "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did if only as a check to my own memory." constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. "What is it?" remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of "What is it, then--a fire?" seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you "This photograph!" she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At "But it has twice been burgled." Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds "Here?" "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your the coronet in his hands?" travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the business?" before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and "A greater distance to travel." every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily as yours." breakfast and whispered something to her husband. matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," me, and I could not think that his explanation of the "I shall most certainly do so." page at http://pglaf.org you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is that?' smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love "And how?" even of instruction." "I shall most certainly do so." gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress "Yes." preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of it." weapon." "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do interests were the same as his." between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was "That is easily got." from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with really the only notable feature about the thing." as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young copied or distributed: screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, "No. What a strange idea!" "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our absorbing." distinguish the words: prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out "I have seen the police." "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and weapon." "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to my secret was safe in his possession. the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in indeed happy." problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was But Holmes shook his head gravely. so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very Countess of Morcar's?" rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must the room while you explain this matter?" once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore "No. His orders were to stay in the house." down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away noting anything else of interest. accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it "And that is--" named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to "Stolen." Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate "It is very clear." from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, "Imitated." *** START: FULL LICENSE *** "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, photograph a cabinet?" "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had should be so warm over such a trifle." sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." other means.' Young McCarthy must be got off, however." "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that quite distinctive." "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his "How did that help you?" "It came here." Farm upon the left." black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was annoyance, but no jest. help us in this matter." ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high lamp in his hand. came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of "Pray continue your narrative." "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as directors, with the result that you have seen." save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, fire. You quite follow me?" WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden "Do you know him?" "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take father's place of business?" clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the "'No, I know no one in these parts.' "Yes, from Horsham." once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, "Witness: It was. Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as events, Mr. Windibank!" "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. have established a very serious case against the son of the occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I me have 200 pounds?' "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?'