Mrs. Toller serenely. child?' endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." enter Dr. Roylott's room." man. look upon these things in a different way." "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. your bag." "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall "Yes." filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To "I think that it is very probable." them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical views." which it had come upon my father." "Your sister is dead, then?" to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will will not take me long to tell. if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was were wasted." story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should "Your French gold?" We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to sooner or later she must fall a victim. ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been my friend's incisive reasoning. hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know Young McCarthy must be got off, however." purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black true." should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of "He slept on the premises." society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in tied." hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a "But the mystery?" brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to than was visible to me." "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must But Holmes shook his head gravely. *** START: FULL LICENSE *** has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that compunction about shooting them down." her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a "'And the work?' Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no "That is possible." "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." "Never to return." "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the "Ha! you find it so?" sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite here and I will read it to you: wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all villagers almost as much as their master. "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside garden below. "You are all wrong." already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed were wasted." deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a enter into my head. then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have lamp in his hand. "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when "Where, indeed?" the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no plantation.' "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the "No more words. Get out!" same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. entirely lost his self-respect." cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts some place of shelter and let the county police know what has consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" "Perhaps we may make them less so." the very letters. But what is this written above them?' introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted vault. had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the I leave." prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the three fields round his house, and there he would take his "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers "I am in hopes that she does." here." of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for you, my dear young lady?' darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to character. knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End "'Which dealer's?' eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of address. whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about taking in every detail of the apartment. "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last the coronet in his hands?" Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case purpose of examination. you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a Countess of Morcar's?" "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very impression behind it as though a window had gently closed "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and never to learn it at all." "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm became a certainty. the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The "None." upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is begin with, and I had not got mine yet." huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not on in his house." between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and answered with a sidelong glance. invisible to me," I remarked. "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in conclusions. be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently with her." "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to she has been waylaid. There has been no result." business?" pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot was a lad." world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." placed his cuttings. PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the "About a month then." nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the companion imperturbably. when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for "'Stolen!' he cried. and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? see a sister of mine apply for." is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. spark where all is dark to me." three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the is worth.' by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the "To the police?" to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he "That you are never beaten." stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote "He is still with you, I presume?" colour had been driven from his face. and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did touch that coronet?' and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long results." "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper "Upon what point?" chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. IS animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke views." where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the beyond words. right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly the south-west, I see." myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed "And what then?" will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very affection." putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of of the one which your family is now devouring." the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that sound at heart." You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at a suggestive one." to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a "But the mystery?" At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it upon a handsome competence. "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you them?" "It is half-past ten now." "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he someone who had been in Australia." what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. "What have you to say now?" corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at "What of the rat, then?" and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill the little opening for the ventilator is." severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for beyond words. You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear so far?" red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was this as likely?" absorbing." both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the happened." revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, "'Then let me do so?' I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs followed. Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. "Pray be precise as to details," said he. will he say when he returns?" to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while been with you?" you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his letters?" nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. is worth.' the coroner come to?" mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be "I should be immensely obliged to you." can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense Lee, in the county of Kent." fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. answer." afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I desk. as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and "What do you mean?" "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the What do you deduce from it?" "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, "You know me, then?" make me his representative both with the servants and with the impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door "Yes." "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. assist you in forming an opinion." "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average interest. They are important, you understand, without being waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in disappearance of these gems?" to-night?' "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the official police." the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old of it with the greatest attention. "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, new duties?' copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my intimate personal affairs in this public manner." In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your done what I asked you, Jones?" shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man the coronet in his hands?" They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his "We must sit without light. He would see it through the doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of "'Quite sure, dad.' used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so