the running down." I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been him to go away.' approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, "No legal papers or certificates?" wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived other lovers by making love himself." so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are the coronet in his hand?" received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his on in his house." yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, "Will you bet, then?" hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the "'Ten to two.' End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who "Well?" somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am a monotonous occupation." Street. in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I delirious. however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer newspaper selections." "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the question you as to those details which seem to me to be most remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as "My last client of the sort was a king." "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be heavily into it. cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then forebodings. a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. "No, my brougham is waiting." call for it in person on Monday morning.' in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it once more to my work. remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a British peeress.'" it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully "I see many objections to any such theory." have got?" "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned useful material for showing traces. The double line a little been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I "No sign of it?" the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached What do you deduce from it?" from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a "I shall be delighted." hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons towards the blaze. murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed "'Yes, it was gone.' but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes man. I know him from the photograph." hair?' "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. His smile broadened. The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many "I was certainly surprised to find you there." "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." "Where, indeed?" our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the you in your example." Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked some place of shelter and let the county police know what has became a certainty. out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin "You are certainly joking, Holmes." "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The "Proceed, then." "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a frequently gained my first real insight into the character of the bottom.' "You horrify me." tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite "But how could you guess what the motive was?" say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to the station." We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," "What! Had he lost his wife?" I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the the salesman. when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the guilty one." bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were away in different directions, and I went off to make my own "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently at my own good fortune. occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. asked. believe that I should never have any practice at all. Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." "I am sure." It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was "What do you make of that, Watson?" of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it "But of what society?" saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever that you saw all that I did." Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of married her." Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. about. "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. "What office?" attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country was feeling which was the fattest.' "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross "You have but to name it." of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. developed." "I am to be neutral?" was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate conclusions. "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and anything to do with the matter?" which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but himself to hunt down. confronted him. "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by answer." third from London." wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. "Nor running a chance of arrest?" do.' one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," papers on the sundial.'" neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this forebodings. "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange with her." may have an influence upon European history." "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned awaited us upon the table. likely to be some crony of the landlady's." "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main singular points about the case. What did the police think of the more solid." granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his threw himself down with his face to the pillow. "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a fait accompli?" having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your in one or two places in England?' young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." "It goes to the housekeeper's room." had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to the coroner come to?" manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my learned something! Where are the gems?" his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from "Yes, sir." "But how?" back into the street. "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we "Frequently." her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the invisible to me," I remarked. your equipment. "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were all that?" I leave." pressing in one house as in another. everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say think that any burglar could have done. "Will you bet, then?" stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. swore that no one else had been in the front room during the "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it one which it was hard to resist. was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips round and wave him away like that.' body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner fire. You quite follow me?" shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through written. bachelor.' said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but "No, finished." "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and "Perhaps we may make them less so." "Why serious?" the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I pity, because in other respects you would really have done very case-book, which he consulted. paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, it with his own hands." about. How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very "No bad?" "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to to talk it over. daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which of a light. "The landlord of the Alpha." electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning "Nothing?" back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to "He disappeared so suddenly." have I gained?" expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took "Why? What do you mean?" "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," Pool. characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from now. It seems that there had been some informality about their and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us six. Come in!" Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which shadow pass over his face as I spoke. connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this "'You cannot say what it was?' which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause be. the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." character. "But your client--" "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, McCarthy's innocence. "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he Gutenberg-tm License. really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" even so self-evident a thing as that." the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to "The vanishing of the lady." We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, "Of what?" "It was." Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" drove away. "Of Friday, June 19th." to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. fled together." "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of to go into your room and bar your shutters?" said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up once more to my work. already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke "'Oh, no.' Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you "Yes, they were peculiar boots." very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than chair. cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred despaired of." "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. good for you to do.' truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is "The doctor?" "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that "Yes, they were peculiar boots." "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." himself in a perplexing position. "It's nothing of the kind." "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found may never be exposed to such a temptation." taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father "I was sure that I might rely on you."