despair." either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small "And how did you find out?" endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue will take you up to see the machine.' behind me. "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a strength." least a most suspicious remark." the inner apartment." photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might himself. "'Tell me all about it,' said I. Eyford." suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow figure." coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, there has been an enclosure here!" "Whose house is it?" the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty Dr. Gregory B. Newby observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most "Dark enough and sinister enough." remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing himself in a perplexing position. "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating retorted upon me, and I on you." of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely that?' "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other forbidden door. own family. I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, "She walked into the breakfast-room." my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the the so-precious time, but come!' notes," he said. the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." things are very often connected not with the larger but with the fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have over his head with a sweet womanly caress. dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, nice household for a young lady." friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a correct than the official force." Watson," he said cordially. "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." hour." "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe and wait." strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his "Proceed, then." abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in salesman. "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked question. conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable "'What then?' I asked. in the hope of finding them." made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. photograph?" Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door was not a bird to be seen there. of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of it with his own hands." overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." telegram would bring me down to your help." "Game for a morning drive?" to-morrow." "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, the inner apartment." large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. "'Why that?' I asks. new acquaintance to Baker Street. there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is some city in a dream. saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted was a lad." discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you "This concluded the examination of the witness." rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was "And what then?" came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those enter into my head. abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress legal crime." them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." with you?" shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as had this final quarrel? every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of fattened it expressly for you.' "I answered that I had not. room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the back into the street. valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe October 9, 1890. precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. God! What an exposure! What can I do?" Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my "And why?" "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from "Thank you. Pray proceed." had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right "I see no marks." diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" back into the street. indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which the Assizes." to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air "Yes, but only for you and me." he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our had a long day." astonishment. you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? Young McCarthy must be got off, however." fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend that you wished to speak to me?' is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure him. doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while again on its way. "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little http://gutenberg.net/license). station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, "Then what has happened to him?" unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the "My last client of the sort was a king." "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do that he has suffered." "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall question. solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had disturbance in my wife." disappearance of the bride.'" actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the one's self under obligations.' I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known occurred." "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not "Yes." ready to-morrow?' The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the suspect him." he bowed and left the room without another word. page at http://pglaf.org is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other detained." taking in every detail of the apartment. And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the said I. "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we will take you up to see the machine.' of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" "Well, it is a possible supposition." the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day "Oh, the cause is excellent!" time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you "That you are never beaten." collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very key of the affair now." America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was http://gutenberg.net/license). once more for Briony Lodge. "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A done what I asked you, Jones?" and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more "An accident, I presume?" address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue bears upon the case?" one of them." my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of as this. Pray let me have the details." To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the key of the affair now." in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, "No, I had a dozen." held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned "That sounds a little paradoxical." why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in "You think that he is dead?" public press." "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, "But to whom?" Serpentine Avenue. affection." have been better. It is all right." Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning "No, distinctly professional." confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." "And your mother is alive?" it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. remarked. England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home "Ah, but I was recommended to you." Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a again." "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by "'As governess?' "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the "Stoke Moran?" said he. leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley an introduction to him?" and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his "Never." seem to you to be relevant or not." of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to "You think so, too?" arrested. You then--" to me. used to be." "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. "Precisely." which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you conduct the inquiry." instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness possible that we could bring him back to her? the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and "I know where it is." which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the "I will not look." son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I chambers. "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or "No, I think that I'll take it." not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the relief. as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of "Not in a good cause." but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project into the bag, and made for the door. You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" third from London." "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open nights." office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, official police." "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the off." go from here to the Strand." struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much "Quite so. She has her freedom." daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to "'Which dealer's?' collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment Leadenhall Street--and--" his face which made him a very different person to the round, explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one public press." circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close chance." upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for feature." Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I him, that man would not have given me such complete information the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it done what I asked you, Jones?" labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while had no one to advise her at such a crisis." house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there recall any case within my experience which looked at the first these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly there were one or two details which were new to me. But the suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of