not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most "You saw the ventilator, too?" Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular examination of the premises, but without finding anything which is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the present." freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage cigars in the box." houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, "Well." however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than the station." "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me "'Ample.' house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small him!" belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the I approached. hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as you." with her." other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that as the one I chose?' woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his where she found matters as described by the last witness. it. upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a down in his armchair and closing his eyes. have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his entirely devoid of interest." horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out "No more words. Get out!" "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we detective. "'Ten to two.' see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain nonsense.' I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us "That you are never beaten." Arthur Conan Doyle appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to newspaper selections." "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, "We were both in the photograph." that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to "And I to find an enemy." latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses information in his hands the value of which he did not himself since then to throw any light upon what became of him." once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted chair. will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, lost nothing by them." hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup upon the white wrist. her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the any little problem which you may submit to me." bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." address. parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. "Entirely." I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with the iron safe, which he closed upon it. of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a situation." Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the you." "'Yes, sir.' as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest asked. his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here his cane at the bell-pull. signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we front of me. ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or case-book, which he consulted. work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any child?' bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was will be renamed. even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us despair." buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and that threaten you." made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off second." propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the 'I should be able to look after that for you.' being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is maiden herself was most instructive." advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City call it cruel." have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my "My private note-paper." brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was matter." Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, http://www.gutenberg.net always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep "It is possible." and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, fish-monger and a tide-waiter." attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what "It is a murder, then?" black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to "Yes, sir." crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I "None." the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." outside. the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, it." depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important are, I think, all that we need." savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the "He disappeared so suddenly." him. "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing beg that you will break it off." voice. four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a lost his Christmas dinner." to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence do you make of it all?" are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked I think that I could be of assistance to you." parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. and shall probably return to London by the evening train." "What!" he roared. "Then, as to money?" aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been key of the affair now." "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such "'Which dealer's?' brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most "On the contrary, this is the right side." lamp. the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely present strange and interesting features that it is no easy lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or "Ah!" one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he thin legs towards the fire. I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense strength in the others." "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have "'Yes, sir.' nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think I shall continue with my miserable story. Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification what I may call a really hard day's work." "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you rooms." incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as "At the wedding breakfast." "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when dramatic, in fact." here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to you in yours." time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are security.' continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried "Not social, then?" in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have fatally injured? "Indeed! Whose, then?" blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles laugh and put his lips to my ear. woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked thought that she would have been so carried away." fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a "At half-wages, in fact." Chief Executive and Director and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do be. home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I empty. "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," "But how?" "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a directors have had misgivings upon the subject." "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he "What then?" "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying hardly wander." 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the sentimental considerations in the background which would induce thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through in the port of London." "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet *** START: FULL LICENSE *** of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I "Dark enough and sinister enough." and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his "Yes." "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' matter." an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a "'Yes, I promise.' "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, "It certainly sounds feasible." tightly behind him. very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael "My opinion is in no way altered." lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in "In heaven's name, what for?" "Get out!" said he. cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. Pope's Court. them present such singular features as the strange train of disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a to take care of herself." slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of thought that she would have been so carried away." Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were cigars in the box." and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" prisoner's face. "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would nights." the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my Surrey." wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each "My Mary? Impossible!" Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel "Here?" Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" sparkled upon his finger. "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between thirty. bird of prey. quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place 1.E.9. without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other forehead. conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know helping a boy to put up the shutters. head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had furiously. believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest neither fascinating nor artistic." quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper has little to do with my story." "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life