them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked "I should wish to." the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to thin legs towards the fire. Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to "That is easily got." drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for and wait." autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and presume?" upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the "'Yes.' "It is no ordinary one." a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and in a very precise fashion." and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a me where it went to?" begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to know what is wrong with it.' "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where went to the Alpha were town bred." official police." "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There ashen face. "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor "Your sister is dead, then?" "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at public press." His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." "I was certainly surprised to find you there." been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at "It is his hat." attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And wedding?" There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my "I will, Miss Turner." states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had lids now and glanced across at his visitor. the matter." very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a union?" "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it as yours." lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I written, and locked the door of the office after me. would then never go into court at all." saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either "Indeed! Whose, then?" if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers entirely devoid of interest." congenial hunt. I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. possible that we could bring him back to her? to talk it over. occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." "But of what society?" post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of examination of the premises, but without finding anything which still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and geese which you supplied to the Alpha." forehead. knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons approach us with offers to donate. Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." morning." his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as even so self-evident a thing as that." empty. it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap papers." again on its way. cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from enter Dr. Roylott's room." that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the "Dr. Becher's." "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United gbnewby@pglaf.org insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, "Texas, I think." Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were examine." we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal the ceiling. statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the business came to an end." "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for will find little credit to be gained out of this case." helping a boy to put up the shutters. laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and the coronet in his hands?" "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went once more to my work. "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the of your young ladies.' drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we "And is that all?" we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered "I would pay ten." Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings "But your client--" stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" what is your own theory as to what took place?" ready to-morrow?' my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, as yours." "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have our word." suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said "We must have a cab." particular state visit http://pglaf.org groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' forbidden door. stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to upon a handsome competence. I took the paper from him and read as follows: the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature side. politicians who had been sent down from the North. for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive "You did not overhear what they said?" "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert her also." red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there and it need not interfere very much with one's other as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." things are very often connected not with the larger but with the "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." pictures, libraries, or plate. "'Ten to two.' "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I "Pray let us have it, for all that." days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where now. It seems that there had been some informality about their "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old to Leatherhead. houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the "A greater distance to travel." "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are tension within him. never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send "Very. But will he see it?" test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would upon the white wrist. and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking and I shall be with you presently." police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, "Breckinridge is his name." danger is over." is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in sake, don't!" dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small article?" "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it "Was your sister dressed?" "I cannot think." understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody "Ample." gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never acquaintance?" cigar and let me expound." town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the dear old homesteads?" there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I away in different directions, and I went off to make my own left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with results." "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had empty. said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us status with the IRS. license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what fashion which was peculiar to him. inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned way: nonsense.' "'Is 4 pounds a week.' minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very photograph a cabinet?" base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his "My own seal." seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring "'Stolen!' he cried. approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to "Certainly." "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us what I may call a really hard day's work." Holmes' room. paper in the air. value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, sake, don't!" "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had hereditary King of Bohemia." life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This I. practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon light and attacked it." the very letters. But what is this written above them?' my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, him, that man would not have given me such complete information maiden herself was most instructive." you." It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, tail." week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the your sleep?' chance at all." writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and was not a bird to be seen there. "My dear Holmes!" "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom "I say it is." bird of prey. shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. recall any case within my experience which looked at the first reach." straightened it out again. "By train from Waterloo." "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. in him." "None." called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I discontent upon his features. "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned "What are they?" are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in "No?" "My dear Holmes!" "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If crowd. inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen "It missed him, then?" 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying fear." "In answer to an advertisement." way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should "Very well, sir. And this stone?" "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is questionable one." "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. crowd. "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here "Quite so. She has her freedom." that you saw all that I did." "Yes." tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he "And why?" miles off. "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything woven round him. their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through "And what did you see?" delighted to hear it," he said. o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if attention." and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the lids now and glanced across at his visitor. and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found