"He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What felt?" have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said "I will try. What is it?" feature." what I may call a really hard day's work." of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in bare slabs of marble. "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was colour had been driven from his face. depend upon your compliance." definite end. forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they in this way: It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the closely." "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus outside. would apply.' Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think nothing with him." such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of "Yes, only one." to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker matter." the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to photograph?" and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full "What, then, did Peterson do?" room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. should be taken.' by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. been deceived." all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the events, Mr. Windibank!" revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do outside. "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" "He might." for its centre. "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to "And what did you learn from him?" other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like "And how did he make his money?" used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of his face which made him a very different person to the round, "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay perplexity from it to my illustrious client. bedroom door." as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few "Yes. He waved his hands." 1.E.9. "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual of Mr. Rucastle's." possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if "But how will you look?" "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a seem to you to be relevant or not." 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there anything to do with the matter?" clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," carriage. It was a chestnut." but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned "And how did you verify them?" "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a His smile broadened. "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned and the church but not where the lady lived." stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, papers." guilty one." "It is to him that this trophy belongs." lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my even of instruction." Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious lumber-room." building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of confronted him. "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then again on its way. Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of his fortune, and I went back to pa. of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, was a perfect sample of the class. the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed "Well?" subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in annoyance, but no jest. presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin note?" this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of the station." believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being "Thank you. Pray proceed." gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said married her." "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name will take you up to see the machine.' effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded "Where is it, then?" him to go away.' "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry shall not find me ungrateful." weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from pity, because in other respects you would really have done very "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it "Do you know him?" "Of what?" table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us over his head with a sweet womanly caress. "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be "And is that all?" assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a "On Monday." together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" "No good news?" which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. "So I have heard." police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for which are rolled in Rotterdam." "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an DAMAGE. go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, so.' fluttered off among the others. "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, "But I am all in the dark." The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," had no one to advise her at such a crisis." his face which made him a very different person to the round, dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He to me. PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk chance at all." "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause Sutherland?" him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When "But how could you guess what the motive was?" the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. "You think so, too?" "I beg pardon." rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets "May I see it?" Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on "None." may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and you came in." stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out outbreak?" Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent "What I expected to see." rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had http://gutenberg.net/license). to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it nonsense.' had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed "And that is--" "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the of." pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and once more for Briony Lodge. sit on the left-hand side of the driver." than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of that he has suffered." "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. Gutenberg-tm License. "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have into the room. paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman important." Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we formed some opinion?" opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big sneer upon his pale face. "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up best detective that ever lived. James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout started for the Temple to see my husband. "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you noise which awoke you from your sleep?" morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was "I fear not." years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see promised to bring home. be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast "May I see it?" with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. never came back." Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but thin, with a long, sharp nose?" desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he letters?" past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this the so-precious time, but come!' half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of "On your arm?" sufficient punishment." "Oh, fresh and glossy." "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my secret." "Because he was handy and would come cheap." building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I "ARAT," I read. "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the Young McCarthy must be got off, however." "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. "Yes, they were peculiar boots." "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed point in the dark hollow of his hand. have been better. It is all right." imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes be there in time for your coming." the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, upon the white wrist. "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of "It was an hour's good drive." interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four writer." him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered companion quietly. are, I think, all that we need." us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I your room." "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said "I cannot tell." "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." directly by questioning you." Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should "Because he was handy and would come cheap." difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" "No, distinctly professional." impression behind it as though a window had gently closed out of this horrible affair." I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl direction." "Do you know him?" uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of "No more words. Get out!" I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle confronted him. my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face behind me. sentimental considerations in the background which would induce perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon opened a pocket-book and took out a note. utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may "My stepfather's business papers."