immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me it." tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not that he will be back before evening." At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, you want, then?' up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. there is a decided draught." "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the I nodded to show that I had heard. enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. himself. a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old test if we have an answer to our advertisement." machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it prisoner's face. "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our again before evening." feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small residence of the great financier. I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of very old mansion. grasp, he hurried from the room. and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, security.' pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." "I think that it is very probable." "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple with her." "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my "What! You do not mean bodies?" "Here?" you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And in his hands." foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed out." ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As without a word or a look. bore every mark of being an average commonplace British "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it of the way of danger. neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and "At the wedding breakfast." gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood "Nothing." stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, congratulate you again." http://gutenberg.net/license). have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been definite end. have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be "You think so, too?" innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my you?' to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love "I have seen the police." "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking Gutenberg-tm License. is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the in the port of London." take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than "'No, I know no one in these parts.' find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' the room while you explain this matter?" disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural "Did you become engaged then?" "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up the one as in the other." farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and "I don't believe it." "'And what salary do you ask?' through." "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that strength." which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in shall use the carriage to-night." matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my light and attacked it." the matter?" Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" "But of what society?" "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous village inn over there?" "One of his hands." so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem emerged. you." now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then seen the man in the road." posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied "Which surely he restored to their owner?" foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds gives a meaning to it." 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. fattened it expressly for you.' in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the use an arc-and-compass breastpin." leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right will he say when he returns?" "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal "Where, indeed?" not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was any little problem which you may submit to me." time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar "Quite so. She has her freedom." 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without hurried away. ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, results." had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I "It was." "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go and files of the old papers, following the future career of every for and were ordered to this address. smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. "But how?" its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more and the church but not where the lady lived." wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than "So it appears." Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. his fortune, and I went back to pa. was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they to go into your room and bar your shutters?" house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was Pool. poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she little adventures." The telegram which we eventually received came late one night I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to any little problem which you may submit to me." Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else him nearly every evening." correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a to have been novel and of interest." "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." "Where, then, is my wife?" if I call to-morrow?" "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls "Do you know him?" I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I with frightened eyes at his accuser. upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back in my life." could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed woman." woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer said he. "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go "But how could you guess what the motive was?" he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined gone before you can get him to hospital." made him keep the appointment." It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up soul! here is her carriage at the door." while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm you." he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. question. time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before him and tried to hold him back. recall any case within my experience which looked at the first "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come "To ruin me." "Stolen, then." the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six Project Gutenberg-tm works. dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net official police." myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the what these perils are?" headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him stood on the top of it. know what is wrong with it.' the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just hair?' "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever "One?" over his head with a sweet womanly caress. Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what test if we have an answer to our advertisement." As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, "'It is locked up,' I answered. "And why in hopes?" serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has "I never have." sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as me have 200 pounds?' "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but "Proceed, then." animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who fat-encircled eyes. "None." air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off McCarthy's innocence. young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. them present such singular features as the strange train of "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our "That sounds a little paradoxical." Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. his fortune, and I went back to pa. Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize "It is very kind of you." position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' photograph?" inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank "Your sister is dead, then?" and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the foresight and the moral retrogression?" the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But both be extremely obliged.' devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and second." get the tickets." which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." Gutenberg-tm License. elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" behind me. that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means "Do you receive much company?" he asked. side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the experiences." "Texas, I think." "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you with frightened eyes at his accuser. him to go away.' in the port of London." "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and "What shall I do?" it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She digesting their breakfasts at home." am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not dramatic, in fact." mystery may be cleared along those lines." seven miles from Eyford Station.' black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you weapon." - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you "Married! When?" stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the "To an English lawyer named Norton." "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with Holmes rather sternly. and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. prove to be little relation between the different incidents of along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't some place of shelter and let the county police know what has weary and pale-looking. "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob "What steps will you take?" I asked. Arthur Conan Doyle All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with "Then how many are there?" blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at said he. and inquire as to the address." his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" "The murder was done with it." to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker "Absolutely none." "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made "'And what are they worth?' I asked. weigh very heavily upon my conscience." insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. Mary, has deserted me." I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very "Dr. Becher's." King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of "I will get her to show me." doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. for securing the situation." And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that