the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb beyond words. I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and desk. knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked Leave Paddington by the 11:15." What do you deduce from it?" skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he unprecedented a position." inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with "No, thank goodness, she did not." casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought "How on earth--" It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. in this note: four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this Surrey." never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never absorbing." return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he tapping his fingers upon the table. pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he to his chemical studies. "Not him." Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly lips." wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be written. comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." a room. has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his four million human beings all jostling each other within the through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the sound at heart." left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only tension within him. "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day at home. we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a fled together." set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." putting in the horse. or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' "Nearly eleven." signal between you and your father? danger is over." "You did not overhear what they said?" "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then "That is easily got." have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban about here speaks of his kindness to him." "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a notes," he said. the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in compunction about shooting them down." Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez society." his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this my room." investigation." you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And rose-bushes. beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes points to suicide?" drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows "How did you trace it, then?" a good hundred miles off by now." him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook upon a handsome competence. chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." examination of the premises, but without finding anything which years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the ill-usage at the hands of fortune. Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for "No, I had a dozen." and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up point our research must commence, and we will begin it by branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which "And that is--" "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with His name is Francis Prosper." "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which galvanised. creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project shall use the carriage to-night." "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name gone. My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as "'There is a drive, then?' can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for that I may have something better before very many minutes are cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door companion imperturbably. I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. "It is half-past ten now." some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" "'Most admirably.' such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press them, and came down just as you departed. "What is it?" should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the "Then I can wait in the next room." "Not in the least." "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy "Did you become engaged then?" "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in touch that coronet?' whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are "'Most admirably.' impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet him nearly every evening." grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to "Was he the only applicant?" "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry "'What then?' I asked. piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband success. "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You "Which surely he restored to their owner?" appointment with me for six o'clock?" the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. way in." attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. which should have the effect of calling the attention of the his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the "I was mad--insane." Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would "And who is her maid?" "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the Have you good authority for what you say?" case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this "By all means." Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." there was no need for father to know." "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this "'I shall certainly be there.' "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has "'Yes, sir.' Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a crime." to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, "But how?" some water from a caraffe. indeed which he could not unravel. thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the rat could hardly pass through." "Well." particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I "But not more so than I to find you." upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' note?" creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of several quiet little villages up there." and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be said Mr. Holder. daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' "And on what day did he meet his death?" one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have returning from some small jollification and was making his way "In answer to an advertisement." reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and national property. I was determined that the law should have its promised to bring home. It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I writers could invent nothing more crude." the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few "'Stolen!' he cried. cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and "Not social, then?" "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying returned to France?" deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a that there was nothing in it, after all." but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for "You know me, then?" thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I was keenly on my guard against him. matters immensely." coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at there." "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage that?' "Thank you. Pray proceed." for and were ordered to this address. "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? opened the door, and slipped through. "Yes." dates and names. a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. "'Then let me do so?' Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return the house with me." cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to until night should bring an explanation. "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in your co-operation." "He said that you could solve anything." "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him existence." Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence triumphant cloud from his cigarette. "I see many objections to any such theory." Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this What do you deduce from it?" It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and strong and stiff." know that the truth is known." there were one or two details which were new to me. But the time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. "Yes, but only for you and me." "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which had picked up in the wood. "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! the date of his supposed suicide." the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, digesting their breakfasts at home." "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years "And what then?" of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely "Ah!" paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may felt?" in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from to surprise her." a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a "Won't it ring?" "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." a good hundred miles off by now." my friend's incisive reasoning. "Precisely." "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes business came to an end." "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else "'I shall certainly be there.' "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so little trying to do so much typewriting?" said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old