bore every mark of being an average commonplace British in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of "Stolen, then." of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for and prosperity to your house. Good-night." of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his spark where all is dark to me." bird I ate is country bred." "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we it? Did I buy the geese off you?" he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most where Mr. Fordham shows you.' boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must "He is dead," cried several voices. the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid murdered man." thirty. suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which and the colonel ushered me in. round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done "Did you become engaged then?" offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of me. You must get home instantly and act." shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. points to suicide?" "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She "'In my own bureau.' on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain beg that you will break it off." legal crime." was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is "'Yes, it was gone.' not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed "Now, then, what's the last entry?" case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the pity, because in other respects you would really have done very the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." lumber-room." "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. "Absolutely none." absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I the house with me." "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and ordinary clothes on?" company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." "What I expected to see." ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! the running down." "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement Mrs. Toller serenely. offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my criminal. We have already had experience of such." strength." "Pray tell us what has happened to you." turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. "How did you deduce the select?" He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that pressing in one house as in another. "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made "I am all attention, madam." have got?" "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution "One of the highest in England." utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no "Your sister is dead, then?" stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at there was no need for father to know." "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that "No." to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which acquaintance?" "Ah, but I was recommended to you." sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On "Oh, yes, easily." clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. "A call for help, you thought?" envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower done what I asked you, Jones?" "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six indeed which he could not unravel. and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable carpenter." "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael already referred to. impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern of the one which your family is now devouring." "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was them, and came down just as you departed. whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' "Texas, I think." come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little "9th. McCauley cleared. finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic British peeress.'" "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, "No." points to suicide?" "I was afraid that you were engaged." I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, "Where, then?" column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There the coronet in his hands?" which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the "In the cells." "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of breakfast and whispered something to her husband. his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of "The landlord of the Alpha." and put his glass in his pocket. the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down "And leave your case unfinished?" have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss "A confidential servant?" possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul name is different." about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with "'What then?' I asked. crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be "My Mary? Impossible!" read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to voice, changing her seat as requested. the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in "'Certainly not. But why?' his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the in a friendly supper." controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a feature." We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able place, I think that there is good ground to think that the "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which "I am following you closely," I answered. in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be returned to France?" as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in away in different directions, and I went off to make my own He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from "I should like to see him very much." in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" Gutenberg-tm License. this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. here and I will read it to you: in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what "Precisely so. But how--" walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece "You did not overhear what they said?" uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of "A greater distance to travel." familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is me." "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what entirely devoid of interest." extraordinary contortions. is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I bill, which interests me deeply." at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared sparkled upon his finger. one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own ventilator." meant." broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the orange pips. that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as Heh?' gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my "Oh, fresh and glossy." Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on "I will get her to show me." "Precisely." from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and where she found matters as described by the last witness. But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will again before evening." staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative Holmes' thin, eager face. "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was meant." may never be exposed to such a temptation." Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a sake, don't!" in his hands." We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future "No, my brougham is waiting." companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able "That you are never beaten." "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. "Seven!" I answered. as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no sound at heart." bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have a good hundred miles off by now." south, for the country is more deserted there." Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon Pope's Court. tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" "To an English lawyer named Norton." building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her name is different." "Then you may entirely rely on me." then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss something of him before." appeal." was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary visitors." "Why, it's a dummy," said he. "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and morning." and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me in a very precise fashion." "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security matter." and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so of the one which your family is now devouring." "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, was not a bird to be seen there. plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer suspect him." I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very woven round him. brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I relief. as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' "How many? I don't know." all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something "I shall most certainly do so." who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the sit on the left-hand side of the driver." 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with "You are hungry," I remarked. "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. cigars in the box." while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend upon the white wrist. a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. me where it went to?" "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at ways including including checks, online payments and credit card of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about front of me. "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to back alive. vault. beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they "In what way?" asked Holmes. "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. garden below. "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." for its centre. cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from even so self-evident a thing as that." "Not in a good cause." a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his "Tired-looking or fresh?" sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. cost them two and thirty pounds." sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my behind me. with the outside air!" events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his "Here?"