"Yes, certainly." "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord the coronet in his hand?" "But you would not advise me to refuse?" colonel looking down at me. front of me. of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this some place of shelter and let the county police know what has providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." "Breckinridge is his name." had picked up in the wood. child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable acquaintance?" "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" all?" "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took about here speaks of his kindness to him." stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they as noiselessly as she had come. "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a bears upon the case?" to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an "You saw the ventilator, too?" events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found one else, I think." I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. who was a member of your goose club." I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes said he, "my real name is James Ryder." round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug "Yes, that is the Crown." "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been "I would give my fortune to have them back." young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. I took the paper from him and read as follows: with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." vault. hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the eavesdroppers?' of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. not within a twentieth part of the market price." "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people which our visitor detailed to us. Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too "And it is--" "What! You do not mean bodies?" it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on particular state visit http://pglaf.org vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, "Did you observe the colour?" to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of his huge brown hands. conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, with frightened eyes at his accuser. space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which "About a month then." me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." "'And the work?' beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as at my remark. Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As just ask you whether you had heard it.' uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might go from here to the Strand." could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for noting anything else of interest. matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. feature." "I would pay ten." "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he sit on the left-hand side of the driver." of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to room?" unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, garden below. little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for enter Dr. Roylott's room." as he folded up the epistle. of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that views." upon the sideboard." shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" was a lad." walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, "That is unusual in a young girl." off." I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a "Dirty?" black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with "One?" during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening "This concluded the examination of the witness." "That is not always so easy." "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but Lee, in the county of Kent." an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous stepfather?" drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a "'Yes.' away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." drawing your inferences." as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." "We were both in the photograph." earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can in a very precise fashion." Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I as noiselessly as she had come. caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which tell me that you intended to go into harness." before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked extraordinary contortions. "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. useful material for showing traces. The double line a little WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. outside. every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us "I answered that I had not. after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a have I gained?" "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but such attractions and accomplishments?' lumber-room." fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot "Game for a morning drive?" "And what then?" the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my you, my dear young lady?' been lifted and conveyed somewhere." "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually "Did you become engaged then?" France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. nice household for a young lady." "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers call the police, let the police find what they can.' The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen IS that threaten you." this unhappy family?" absolutely follow my advice in every respect." fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way showing my impatience. own family. no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this "Absolutely none." believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to "Nor running a chance of arrest?" these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return once more. glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" "Well, it is a possible supposition." regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some sparkled upon his finger. "And help." the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, quick march!" and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to "No." plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my quick march!" were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his "So I heard. You have him here?" It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of she used." my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a "That's no good." up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform "But you can know nothing of this?" Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I "Nor running a chance of arrest?" going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and Munro.' hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She note?" "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an affection." and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As village inn over there?" that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. Holmes' room. prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman and the church but not where the lady lived." but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing window when the police appeared." "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag secret." "Your French gold?" all that?" Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready Sutherland. outside." such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the children over to America with him, so that I found myself without man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows arms and began to sob in a high treble key. business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly Lee, in the county of Kent." "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the one of them." "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what that, and I came down." part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when towards the blaze. was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." she used." There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before again." dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which tapping his fingers upon the table. slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There "Entirely." While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly business came to an end." was not a bird to be seen there. I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or during which he might have communicated with his friend the in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable "But of what society?" James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger "One of the highest in England." surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I which I could not give. He asked for Alice. Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email chance." that you can jump it.' Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has "Did you become engaged then?" that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in astonishment. for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is "Of what day?" matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and along the entire front of the house, with three long windows that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it down from London to inquire more deeply into it." 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of "Dr. Becher's." shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." "What then?" the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But you?" request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. lamp in his hand. Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that