the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich narrative." McCarthy." the devil!" on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his new acquaintance to Baker Street. slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what "You think that he is dead?" saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall in him." that I may have something better before very many minutes are in his power. o'clock is it?" fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager sentimental considerations in the background which would induce "Dr. Becher's." "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a "Was the window open?" from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and be sorry for having acted so harshly." latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent your sleep?' "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that outsides of the windows. her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very "What then?" to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing important." "Certainly." very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we "Then I can wait in the next room." process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. most important business. It is probable that he will be away all hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the such person." minor matters until to-morrow." the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper "At half-wages, in fact." one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version nonsense.' every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; "Yes, they were peculiar boots." "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis I think that I could be of assistance to you." said he. It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to "Do you know him?" step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's States. that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until case-book, which he consulted. abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous was already answered. 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first 'I should be able to look after that for you.' music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his vault. "I am all attention, madam." "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: returned to France?" stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was upon an income of about 60 pounds." fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a with the outside air!" was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any "What of the rat, then?" encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so directors have had misgivings upon the subject." "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or laugh and put his lips to my ear. "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I other lovers by making love himself." stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate felt the room to be a little close.' nothing with him." strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." roused himself from his reverie. brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as all?" will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not http://gutenberg.net/license). infinite languor in his face. from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, window when the police appeared." was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a "My dear Holmes!" "I am armed." the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not security.' "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the "And your mother is alive?" an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took the warnings." It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. "But how?" eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and "No good news?" inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' "I answered that I had not. "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew "You know me, then?" allusion to a rat. wall." did not hear it also.' right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well seven miles from Eyford Station.' would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot such attractions and accomplishments?' figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey invisible to me," I remarked. am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the morning." be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in possible that we could bring him back to her? "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. amused." surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of "Dark enough and sinister enough." Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed that I can to serve you." occupations.' filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be roused himself from his reverie. James Windibank. Voilà tout!" I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner been shamefully used." material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a Street. weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend was it brought him the coronet? "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you unprecedented a position." you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my true." my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. "My private note-paper." Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, forecastle of an emigrant ship. the little opening for the ventilator is." fled together." colonel looking down at me. an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly behind me. strength in the others." cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more of this gang." value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple tapping his fingers upon the table. hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is "Dr. Becher's." the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. "'Then let me do so?' that he has suffered." night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and could not account in any way for the presence of the missing walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular "At what time?" long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was telegram would bring me down to your help." hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than bed dies. Does not that strike you?" attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them Edgeware Road. such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. Stoke Moran." Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as "It is very kind of you." discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my "In heaven's name, what for?" fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a late!' "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal "Tired-looking or fresh?" "Look there!" said he. near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger Clair, of Lee." awaited us upon the table. Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, side. "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is place of silver." tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the upon the shelf for the interim." held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. reach." once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had even of instruction." defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a crackling voice. Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No very peculiar words of the dying woman?" there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the have not had my rubber." really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong certainly do as you advise." DISSOLVED. directly by questioning you." value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the "Yes." round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He him to be an active member of the medical profession." drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been "It is very kind of you." table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or "'Yes, it was gone.' "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in "I am all attention, madam." sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let "Yes." room had already been engaged for us. criminal. We have already had experience of such." "'Never.' room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and "But he might be a bachelor." body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good against a man in the prime of life?" "9th. McCauley cleared. Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in strong reason behind." the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some possible that we could bring him back to her? behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and papers diligently of late, have you not?" to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, following enigmatical notices: A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a cause to be." "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of ceremony." adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice unkempt, staring out at me. visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in "What then?" "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again "I cannot imagine." "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should to have that photograph." me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had "This photograph!" London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little wanted for ourselves." conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like ways of our fellow-men." "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up Holmes' room. wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been "'Tell me all about it,' said I. you for a few hours?" stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how know that the truth is known." with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no garden below. But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be "Yes, it would be as well." wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell think that he is innocent?" his face. "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately "What can it mean?" I gasped. by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried "'Where could I find him?' "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms "I think that I had better go, Holmes." brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, burst out into a roar of laughter. "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to not personally threatened." Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not I nodded again. "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" of the vacancies.' Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely laugh and put his lips to my ear.