of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about http://www.gutenberg.net "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same Where does the thing come from?' in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have "At what time?" to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a went to the Alpha were town bred." especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The have established a very serious case against the son of the ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door on in his house." "What office?" "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with digesting their breakfasts at home." rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to "If I can be of use." insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours "But she could not love him." being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms "If I can be of use." supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were my room." lamp. down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I even of instruction." the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to of them has the shutters up.' instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine weighed down with some great anxiety. should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has "What will you say?" immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. mystery may be cleared along those lines." Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman "'What then?' I asked. ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with pressing in one house as in another. your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer little adventures." fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I companion imperturbably. vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" whatever might befall. "Imitated." man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. "I would give my fortune to have them back." to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this asked. morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a congenial hunt. "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was affection." "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival had this final quarrel? "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his these bleak autumnal evenings." "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal "Frequently." sound at heart." been able to understand it, in a very few words. stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the and have this put in the evening papers." "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an some water from a caraffe. that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his telegram would bring me down to your help." should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is "My private note-paper." "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 "'Is purely nominal.' "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a derbies." by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom lost his Christmas dinner." that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous Pool. that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows few hundred pounds.' believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." photograph?" "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the Dr. Gregory B. Newby business came to an end." weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which wife's character?" you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. anything to a woman, for she would have her way." at home. spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They for its centre. Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal weigh very heavily upon my conscience." shoulder. "You saw the ventilator, too?" "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. "No." a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that I shall communicate with you." here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. "That is unusual in a young girl." "Pray tell us what has happened to you." "Yes, sir." closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which opened the door, and slipped through. his fortune, and I went back to pa. what I may call a really hard day's work." "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked conceal it?" certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and characteristics, but those are the more obvious." instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my only touch the interest." rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. "That was it, sir." Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong "It goes to the housekeeper's room." garden below. on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic locked." tell them apart.' "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On lids now and glanced across at his visitor. station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round "In San Francisco, a year ago." established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance suddenly upon us." is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of not within a twentieth part of the market price." is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my business in the City. She little knew what. should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, the Assizes." clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise of it with the greatest attention. Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" he. "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the it? Did I buy the geese off you?" "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as 'I should be able to look after that for you.' His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face your billet.' "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, 'I should be able to look after that for you.' also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they everything which you would wish to know." shag which I had seen upon the previous night. the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the "No, my brougham is waiting." certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He "Has he come with you to-night?" the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a was a perfect sample of the class. have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with could gather together that I was able to avert another public at once, for I have only half an hour." see me here to avoid scandal." there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which strength." "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk look upon these things in a different way." Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, "It is very clear." "On Monday." cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help "'In my own bureau.' "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of said he. of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten "Murdered?" You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. "I should like to see him very much." across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this "What can you not understand?" "Yes, I have one waiting." dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's in his hands." It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it stood on the top of it. them?" ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and asked with his eyes open. stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have "Was the window open?" recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have "And your father? Did you tell him?" were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I "'Not at all. I only doubt--' colonel looking down at me. the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his them present such singular features as the strange train of avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very 'please.'" because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. then?" this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." "None." little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her begin with, and I had not got mine yet." "'I am sure if I had known--' come either from the window or the door. My attention was think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his intimate personal affairs in this public manner." to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it seen the man in the road." "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," wedding?" news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured my friend's incisive reasoning. "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am "No. His orders were to stay in the house." of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. has little to do with my story." International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of "Witness: It was. "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man your most interesting statement." 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than certainly do as you advise." took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her gentleman's clothes. terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast respectable self." Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and to arrive at through this?" "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must "You know me, then?" considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of details." for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to strength of mind to control. Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. "Have you her photograph?" he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and "How on earth--" has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public questionable one." I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time "'As governess?' "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to had picked up in the wood. happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that records." "But it has twice been burgled." framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar 'please.'" "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where house for five minutes.' "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined bed dies. Does not that strike you?" few hundred pounds.' blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must "Stolen, then." glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked "I cannot imagine." saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored "No, thank goodness, she did not." as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. fattened it expressly for you.' any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear 'I should be able to look after that for you.' decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and the bed, and you in that chair." "You are hungry," I remarked. This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall even so self-evident a thing as that." us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in http://gutenberg.net/license). conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of one of the states of the Union." vague figure huddled up in the darkness. "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." Lee, in the county of Kent." Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was individual and becomes the badge of a society." man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his notes," he said. begin with, and I had not got mine yet." for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must you?" devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that not come at once?" "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. his grey eyes.