to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his "Won't it ring?" fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between business?" doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, security.' "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little the salesman. yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the away into the river." meant it for the best. "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten main points of my analysis." the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that "What then?" "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at touch that coronet?' "Why serious?" "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of "That is also quite modern," said the lady. "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has as noiselessly as she had come. always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they been lifted and conveyed somewhere." extraordinary contortions. 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the Lestrade of Scotland Yard." "No, I am descending." Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too three of the beryls in it, was missing. which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it which are rolled in Rotterdam." Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young in your London, you will know that the office of the company is receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was carpenter." "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, absolutely follow my advice in every respect." "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural child?' "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. even of instruction." all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. to Leatherhead. she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the "I will try. What is it?" the house with me." earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, "On your arm?" my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the showing my impatience. villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. "Oh, the cause is excellent!" "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be "How did you deduce the select?" "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a spare." even so self-evident a thing as that." and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through "How did you trace it, then?" company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting arrested. You then--" key of the affair now." the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over "'How far from the body?' "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society arrangements." suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind through." 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied "How long did she speak to this Alice?" carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how "Certainly." "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came "That you are never beaten." tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and "Why did you beat the pavement?" your billet.' Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly writers could invent nothing more crude." very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. breakfast and whispered something to her husband. endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand article?" admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to to some other building. "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture Eyford." multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of "And sit in the dark?" despaired of." Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. before, for it was considerably after midnight. of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my "Yes, the wine-cellar." merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we unprecedented a position." deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to appeal." probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to unclasping of his long thin hands. answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always "Of what?" eavesdroppers?' black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me noise which awoke you from your sleep?" "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his "Here?" and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until which our visitor detailed to us. total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" events than those which have happened in my own family." "One horse?" interjected Holmes. he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A foresight and the moral retrogression?" well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will written. discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his nice household for a young lady." "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working go back?" merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on "Nothing?" see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him easy-going way." dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are "Quite so. She has her freedom." married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your you." to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we tied." with some details as to your case." constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the presented more singular features than that which was associated "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, than to us. which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing hereditary King of Bohemia." became a certainty. He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will at my remark. Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and and a shock of very red hair. this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell appointment with me for six o'clock?" appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a did not hear it also.' with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. and laid it on the table. and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, ran thus: "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by "'Then let me do so?' sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we Holmes rather sternly. Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, outsides of the windows. of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. coat-tails." my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I foot. "Get out!" said he. on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." "Have you it here?" out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George so far?" recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some "'No, I know no one in these parts.' what these perils are?" clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a been." Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' "Which surely he restored to their owner?" and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working question. went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill fluttered off among the others. deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the "Well." You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off "Was she in good spirits?" this Miss Turner." of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll II. will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. "To the police?" a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. "He slept on the premises." scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before and all of them with the keenest interest. sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." Dr. Gregory B. Newby refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and questionable one." while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely questioning and rather startled gaze. did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of interest. They are important, you understand, without being himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become "I am sure." The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. there has been an enclosure here!" Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little gone. James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate opportunities to fix the problem. a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered intrusion of other matters." "By all means." "So I have heard." murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the girl said." Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth "There are none." was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it friends, not even his own brother. himself. arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing young Openshaw's." his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but "How about poison?" Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a "What! You do not mean bodies?" of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I trifles." between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this were new raised from a basin. believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. was once confined in the cab my mission was practically that there was nothing in it, after all." home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything."