"Very murderous indeed." for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, "Yes." or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting entirely lost his self-respect." the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the "Was your sister dressed?" article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the "'Tell me all about it,' said I. son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a get the tickets." building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small brought there to personate someone, and the real person is down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return "'I have already given you my word.' Holmes' thin, eager face. built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last "Well, it is a possible supposition." could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked your most interesting statement." and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. there in twenty minutes." the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several your Highness to the police-station?" possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you hour?' "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." morning." "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by anything to a woman, for she would have her way." post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows down in his armchair and closing his eyes. about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case opened the door, and slipped through. sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. lost nothing by them." he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt over here." the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the families. Now for the facts. "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then "That is it on the dressing-table." first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that touch that coronet?' "At half-wages, in fact." only touch the interest." no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." "And Miss Sutherland?" The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not towards the blaze. "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' "Was she in good spirits?" kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. there were so many in the whole country as were brought together cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be ran thus: secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord lamp. Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had side. get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for "'In my own bureau.' loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met made his money." had died away into the silence from which it rose. empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in back into the street. Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he go from here to the Strand." all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that people don't know." the dangers which encompass me." The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what kindly on the shoulder. newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found laugh and put his lips to my ear. Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the orange pips. astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was knowledge of the world." "'I am sure that I do not know.' "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. "Holmes, the busybody!" really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." details should find their way into the papers. Inspector out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was one or two very singular points about this room. For example, thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce weapon." that I may have something better before very many minutes are before, for it was considerably after midnight. "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening gone. astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him bled considerably." presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" that there was nothing in it, after all." there has been an enclosure here!" shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, Eyford at 11:15.' "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible that before taking the final step I should like to submit the office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only several quiet little villages up there." "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could "Yes, all." it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, Henry Baker is a member." sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott there is a decided draught." half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." fact, we may call it conclusive." was the fact that his father should, according to his account, shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See "By no means." "A thing like a cleaver," said he. There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I sentimental considerations in the background which would induce and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. politicians who had been sent down from the North. she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and information in his hands the value of which he did not himself "Is he quiet?" values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. "I was certainly surprised to find you there." "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must recover the gem." the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." made his money." "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, it were putty." With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this matter over." "'Which dealer's?' the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full bedroom door." Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every The King stared at him in amazement. investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection that I am arrested." Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded must compliment you." should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be presume?" I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered "Then, how do you know?" interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her your most interesting statement." whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." "'Stolen!' he cried. silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your you want, then?' "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: congenial hunt. "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in "That is also quite modern," said the lady. nonsense.' confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' "No." "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea "Ha! you find it so?" "Precisely so. But how--" Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is "'What are you doing there?' he asked. destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium "But she will refuse." charge against him will break down." the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different sofa. This way, please!" overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran already been minutely examined." surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, "One?" began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' had formerly been in part my own. he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the neither fascinating nor artistic." narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a use an arc-and-compass breastpin." the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all may have an influence upon European history." coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" will he say when he returns?" It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an she has been waylaid. There has been no result." at home. much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his never to learn it at all." "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." stalked out of the room. arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right "So I heard. You have him here?" my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to "'Why that?' I asks. Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one "And what did you see?" about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five "I don't believe it." that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. "Whose house is it?" my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." During two years I have had three consultations and one small is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no "That also I could fathom." disturbance in my wife." wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an "At what time?" business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." once more on the important position which you have been fortunate which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told dear old homesteads?" door?" together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want "No more words. Get out!" "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. "I say that I have solved it." folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The populous neighbourhood." chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at face and glided from the room. give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some "Will you bet, then?" "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I call for protection in the marriage market, for the present a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence them?" "And I say east," said my patient. "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for despair." one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you which are rolled in Rotterdam." details." branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a gbnewby@pglaf.org minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from the house with me." "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, "It is very clear." for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. guilty parties." house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will States. "Did you observe the colour?" "She walked into the breakfast-room." "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said "Then you may entirely rely on me." already been minutely examined." the one as in the other." "What shall I do?" that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves him and tried to hold him back. part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. "Eh? What was that?" of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP "That is also quite modern," said the lady. "Well?" "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but gigantic client. lumber-room." "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' Foundation not as remarkable as your advertisement." "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to of fine shops and stately business premises that they really "She will not sell." through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way was keenly on my guard against him. "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow