"But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the "Yes." "And what did you see?" together. however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were was not a bird to be seen there. "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." get the tickets." husband's writing, madam." building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she The King stared at him in amazement. with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. "It is very kind of you." sake, don't!" platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the foresight and the moral retrogression?" out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" "What! a murderous attack?" as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange in one or two places in England?' "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out man. abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up woman." "You have the photograph?" as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused that salesman. was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous burst into a hearty fit of laughter. "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying wedding?" electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, swore that no one else had been in the front room during the "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be "Ah, but I was recommended to you." the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, "A call for help, you thought?" did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the standing smiling on the door-step. "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the Heh?' centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life overpowering excitement and concern. the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." particular state visit http://pglaf.org "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, walking." you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom "I cannot say that I have." was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off the driver. at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of meant." "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On "And your father? Did you tell him?" lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his "I never have." have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless "Not him." "Was your sister dressed?" weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" yourselves in at night?" companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out companion. there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, light and attacked it." "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him long narrative. for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, than to us. submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back http://gutenberg.net/license). believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. bird I ate is country bred." have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with "I am following you closely," I answered. She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, "No legal papers or certificates?" "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and had died away into the silence from which it rose. "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said for its centre. mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as been with you?" "Why? What do you mean?" after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the "She walked into the breakfast-room." following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I "No legal papers or certificates?" however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before read it out to me." clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little just called myself is not exactly my own." old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in the stable lane now." over his head with a sweet womanly caress. morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has prisoner's face. at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the attention." then?" case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport had died away into the silence from which it rose. trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at his huge brown hands. latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, have accepted such a situation. in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in how narrow had been my escape. be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" "What will you do, then?" "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a were wasted." "Pray let us have it, for all that." license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was "Were they all fastened this morning?" any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself Clair, of Lee." reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average Gutenberg-tm License. which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy "'Yes, sir.' why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive could not account in any way for the presence of the missing value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I I leave." old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would to take care of herself." be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. in a very precise fashion." "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge "What have you to say now?" thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That anything to do with the matter?" "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step "'In my own bureau.' receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy respectable self." a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could and glanced through. wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. putting in the horse. bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have the matter." man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For compunction about shooting them down." "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the "Then you may be so with me." and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I shall not find me ungrateful." events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no lost nothing by them." even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards sake, don't!" away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with is a common subject for conversation. "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was forbidden door. "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy had died away into the silence from which it rose. "Yes, from Horsham." mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There "The gentleman I describe." merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past the one as in the other." 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter me where it went to?" "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become key of the affair now." arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good "Nothing?" grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done several quiet little villages up there." but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every that I can to serve you." Edgeware Road. interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the begun to whiten, even as mine has." this poor creature." "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! "Imitated." "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be "Bought." "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the "'Yes, I promise.' which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now away in different directions, and I went off to make my own at once, for I have only half an hour." him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right to tackle the facts." the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey "Married! When?" eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. for the market.' see me here to avoid scandal." "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious "Who by?" was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no his fortune, and I went back to pa. Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring society." figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I "And Miss Sutherland?" the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the examination of the premises, but without finding anything which drawing your inferences." way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point outbreak?" ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," she has been waylaid. There has been no result." him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you leaning back in his chair. hurried by. "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he "One?" never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will future lives." "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would wedding?" bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I Again Holmes raved in the air. "Yes, from Horsham." "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." over his head with a sweet womanly caress. Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a strong and stiff." returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the know all about it," he snarled. mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There there." - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from "I saw her in conversation with her maid." Holmes' thin, eager face. "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning