"I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is it right.' Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, "Ten will be early enough." down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain Project Gutenberg-tm works. hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I tail." this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did been able to understand it, in a very few words. are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: "No." far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who "I would give my fortune to have them back." time." shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said burst out into a roar of laughter. "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger some terrible trap for her." panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. was once confined in the cab my mission was practically "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great man. conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I your Highness to the police-station?" usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide third from London." neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could companion imperturbably. "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as "You think so, too?" tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon only touch the interest." and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. dear old homesteads?" "And how in the world did you find them?" after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other "'Where could I find him?' prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this our word." province." A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" allusion to a rat. however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she these bleak autumnal evenings." friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a morning." passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it "It is a murder, then?" sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal The police have openly confessed that they can at present make "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project "She walked into the breakfast-room." "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the occurred." 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the "I have my revolver," said I. up this clue while it is still hot." "Will you go?" "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the "We were both in the photograph." of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming your room." ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he even so self-evident a thing as that." though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue carriage. It was a chestnut." pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." "You have it, sir, just as it happened." which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and "Yes?" hour." "Then I can wait in the next room." him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow unprofitable." "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself "No." black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your "You have a clue?" Mary, has deserted me." "Well?" any more." question. to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. "What is it, then--a fire?" something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove "'I have already given you my word.' gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the you." to-night." clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it interested in these little problems, and since you are good Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed I leave." undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." "The Coroner: What do you mean? 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' once more for Briony Lodge. compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." of Fenchurch Street." follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal "But what harm can there be in that?" begun to whiten, even as mine has." all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and John Swain, of St. Augustine. "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the subject to the trademark license, especially commercial corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social future lives." state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal and no precautions can guard against." "Certainly, madam." "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which in the dead of the night?' pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance "'Yes.' "I warn you that they are very incomplete." "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and the bed, and you in that chair." Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the that he will be back before evening." the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the "None." for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to "And you don't know his address?" abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a fluttered off among the others. like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. "Then I do not see the point." feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. Sutherland?" lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and served to weaken the effect. have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared was used.' my friend's incisive reasoning. firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction likely to be some crony of the landlady's." "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel as yours." there is a decided draught." step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an away in different directions, and I went off to make my own long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked geese which you supplied to the Alpha." I leave." minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by a good hundred miles off by now." Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the "No, finished." crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and photograph a cabinet?" did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By not, dad?" she asked. accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," I am not easy in my mind about them." to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile were unconscious?" was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, the bed, and you in that chair." "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of that, and I came down." usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered was it brought him the coronet? weighed down with some great anxiety. waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The power." agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then "I am sure." again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her before, for it was considerably after midnight. of this gang." dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than "'Never,' said I. Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few whereabouts. the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic compunction about shooting them down." "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. "Where, then, is my wife?" Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while "But how?" was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry "Ah!" if only as a check to my own memory." the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from bird I ate is country bred." Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms "I am following you closely," I answered. makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a guilty one." have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all married her." we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door page at http://pglaf.org passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at that I may have something better before very many minutes are "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so province." corner of the building. "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was started for the Temple to see my husband. skylight. "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as "You were travelling in the States?" lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest "'I am sure if I had known--' spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white "I will, Miss Turner." you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," have accepted such a situation. after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves "Yes, at the mines." heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the derbies." but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do drawing your inferences." address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in society." word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this to go into your room and bar your shutters?" savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about "And how did you find out?" have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the cigar and let me expound." brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether wall." "Entirely." the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured of his shoulders. been shamefully used." cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' his huge brown hands. twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his from the brougham. to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that I shall continue with my miserable story. yet." "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your man. she has been waylaid. There has been no result." saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the "I think that I had better go, Holmes." "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning deduce something from that?" in him." "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk tail." Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over once more on the important position which you have been fortunate "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I some mystery and the punishment of some crime." rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years speckled band?" 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" room. "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." and I shall be with you presently." as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean which was all perfectly true. wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, had died away into the silence from which it rose. and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When "But to whom?" "'Entirely.' headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall "How can you tell that?" was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its formed some opinion?" devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand.