Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a "And how have you succeeded?" "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' The events in question occurred in the early days of my Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! here." for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in never will be, entirely cleared up. I shall communicate with you." read over the extraordinary announcement. reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story so far?" full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's his knees, staring into the fire. hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, away into the river." should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to seen the man in the road." anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle comes from the middle window." lectures into a series of tales." "Yes." once more on the important position which you have been fortunate "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime carried out of court." "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to "I fear not." are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the danger is over." about. ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the and looked back. precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never sake, don't!" was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting "How many? I don't know." "Yes, but only for you and me." "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a "Have you it here?" feature." while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the Dr. Gregory B. Newby arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his "I am still in the dark." before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. drawing your inferences." "That sounds a little paradoxical." at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I there has been an enclosure here!" where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you "It is possible." you understand?" ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises arrested. You then--" door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of was once confined in the cab my mission was practically "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of "Why, it's a dummy," said he. upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, DISSOLVED. "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a distinguish the words: tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush thought that she would have been so carried away." pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias footfalls from the street. outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than face and glided from the room. will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 "In San Francisco, a year ago." determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always results." the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend never to learn it at all." for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. hurried away. they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in "No." possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is "That was it, sir." upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from putting in the horse. he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock visitors." leaning back in his chair. out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else cheerful." dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the business." there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted "'Yes, sir.' thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very "Very well, sir. And this stone?" "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that swore that no one else had been in the front room during the of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of an introduction to him?" "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each "And how have you succeeded?" read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." man. prove to be little relation between the different incidents of Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you ceremony." taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, my special province." fatally injured? know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to "What can it mean?" I gasped. therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue vague figure huddled up in the darkness. "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do "And why?" which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his promised to bring home. "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they off." Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to "Yes, sir." agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this emerged. so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." of receipt of the work. and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there rat could hardly pass through." little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, "'Yes, sir.' police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in "One of the highest in England." that you can jump it.' Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm father's place of business?" "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small "But I am all in the dark." do.' "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole "I cannot imagine." Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which that there was nothing in it, after all." and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned again before evening." examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature have been better. It is all right." grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had "None." for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles companion imperturbably. conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm six. Come in!" "My Mary? Impossible!" my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, "The landlord of the Alpha." "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was brought there to personate someone, and the real person is meant." which are rolled in Rotterdam." deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre his forehead." possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong "Not I." explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face are windows in it, of course?" ready to-morrow?' receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your "Entirely." the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I rose-bushes. alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently "But we can't all be." Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him ways including including checks, online payments and credit card "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and of them has the shutters up.' anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck "No bad?" beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and observed. suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke before, for it was considerably after midnight. particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a The telegram which we eventually received came late one night thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. "The decline of his fortunes, then?" "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast *** START: FULL LICENSE *** went to the Alpha were town bred." with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' "I think it very unlikely." collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be which it had come upon my father." figure." "One of the highest in England." analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side colonel looking down at me. "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by and effective." "Yes." "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom room?" few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a "But I have heard all that you have heard." of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of woman who has had her own way to make in the world. "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief said I. outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the giving me time to thank him. advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, the general public were present, then?" eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it "Not I." edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as "Yes, it would be as well." "Yes, that is the Crown." little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as anything to do with the matter?" to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy lamp in his hand. "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as affair. "The Cedars?" upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. knowledge of the world." compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the "Then I am your man." money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a shag which I had seen upon the previous night. with her." round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now "And did you observe any change in her then?" have had none more fantastic than this." me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the yards of it?' "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way "What then?" passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we promised to bring home. passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it "I am still in the dark." "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she License. You must require such a user to return or In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London "'You cannot say what it was?' "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was "Whose house is it?"