treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to Holmes. the nursery. and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, "Tired-looking or fresh?" My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the from you?" direction." may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it "What! Had he lost his wife?" "No, thank goodness, she did not." "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely His name is Francis Prosper." "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside three of the beryls in it, was missing. As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with was a loud and authoritative tap. "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some "It is his hat." young Openshaw's." Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." the bed, and you in that chair." Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and "Why, it's a dummy," said he. without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing future lives." will be renamed. her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that of note-paper. It read in this fashion: papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but "But not more so than I to find you." "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I whatever might befall. "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. you came in." month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, people in all walks of life. assist you in forming an opinion." "At half-wages, in fact." corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, the general public were present, then?" 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself you, my dear young lady?' forbidden door. "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined "Well, some hundreds of times." where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned "And how have you succeeded?" "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was said I. notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the straighten it?" "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down "Was your sister dressed?" days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the the general public were present, then?" from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" your equipment. across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, I held the little printed slip to the light. the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of me. You must get home instantly and act." to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, McCarthy's innocence. dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we case before our client came into the room." "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine "Look there!" said he. "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man carried out of court." which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out troubles have been weighing upon his mind. neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. "That is not always so easy." As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly "What do you make of that, Watson?" unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to "I think it very unlikely." upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His himself to tell his story. Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a one of them." words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and "It must be recovered." having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my "You have carte blanche." casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering and files of the old papers, following the future career of every official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family hour?' that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were waste of energy." enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so "If I can be of use." ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I make me his representative both with the servants and with the the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out have had none more fantastic than this." brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an "Yes. He waved his hands." the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, assist you in forming an opinion." upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or Holmes' room. thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. case-book, which he consulted. man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs "'Yes.' by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place "Never." "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door is worth.' nothing of it?" "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an come either from the window or the door. My attention was screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and "I was sure that I might rely on you." "Yes." recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet leaning back in his chair. walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the "Which surely he restored to their owner?" impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these child?' built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, "Ten will be early enough." those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a "This concluded the examination of the witness." and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was populous neighbourhood." abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were detective. "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. sooner or later she must fall a victim. "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my when your master had gone out." "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that tension within him. grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark "'Ample.' "And you can do nothing until then?" done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good yet." direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man "I was certainly surprised to find you there." his face which made him a very different person to the round, reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to "Then I am your man." Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear up this clue while it is still hot." by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever absolutely follow my advice in every respect." We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which "But the mystery?" "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a James Windibank. Voilà tout!" charged with?" get the tickets." back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a pound a week." "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither "Awake, Watson?" he asked. "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, allusion to a rat. the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, had no one to advise her at such a crisis." "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here later, upon the night of May 2nd." side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One hopeless attempt at recovering them." triumphant cloud from his cigarette. horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect fear." events, Mr. Windibank!" Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the "What! a murderous attack?" "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of in this way: value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, very old mansion. "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are "Yes, sir." drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." wall." wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could upon a handsome competence. "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, "Yes." "Yes, the wine-cellar." basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal "No, my brougham is waiting." down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about conclusions. southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' "Yes, from Horsham." "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. your own bird, so if you wish--" before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, think you a quite exceptional woman." was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with "It is no ordinary one." lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers "When did it break out?" old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." straighten it?" "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed you for a few hours?" lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of "But the mystery?" been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without if only as a check to my own memory." "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found vanished into the darkness. too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect few hundred pounds.' "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of "I will try. What is it?" and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon "Breckinridge is his name." been lifted and conveyed somewhere." them present such singular features as the strange train of inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had bedroom door." deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or some place of shelter and let the county police know what has to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by "Pray tell us what has happened to you." many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of The events in question occurred in the early days of my if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the "And on what day did he meet his death?" or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it village inn over there?" "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which clang of the bell. shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot