"When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room you give your casting vote to?" imbecility!" he cried. people in all walks of life. hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to "The best possible." "'A dozen yards or so.' and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, him. after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire thirty. separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, you?' and a shock of very red hair. "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the "She walked into the breakfast-room." when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. within hail.' for its centre. "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" Sutherland. in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the "This concluded the examination of the witness." however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. retorted upon me, and I on you." of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, dramatic, in fact." India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I "Well, but China?" "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your "He disappeared so suddenly." "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained sooner or later she must fall a victim. and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the sake, don't!" lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. Where does the thing come from?' secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the "Stolen." "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could answered with a sidelong glance. at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until been shamefully used." As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." Doctor, of the paper and the date." "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with suggested at once that there must be a communication between the "But what is it you wish?" it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, fattened it expressly for you.' street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about companion imperturbably. breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a along the entire front of the house, with three long windows rose-bushes. hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into "No sign of it?" There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead "What can you not understand?" "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a what do you think they found in the pockets?" weary and pale-looking. voice, changing her seat as requested. thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature "I have my revolver," said I. "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, "I don't believe it." hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his threw himself down with his face to the pillow. with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and strength in the others." "The murder was done with it." "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way "Her father is very rich?" "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as maiden herself was most instructive." quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? stalked out of the room. "What is it, then--a fire?" have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place questionable one." sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' of his shoulders. thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. not within a twentieth part of the market price." prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who meant it for the best. so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your "No." "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that "'Oh, no.' with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and drove away. seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which "I cannot tell." she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. my former friend and companion. burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in "Which surely he restored to their owner?" "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. there has been an enclosure here!" so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some telegram would bring me down to your help." his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but "Frequently." "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business morning." snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the "Certainly." "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime States. closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE goes." "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, instincts rose up against that laugh. "'And what salary do you ask?' present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect a suggestive one." accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of "But you have hopes?" "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from main points of my analysis." "Yes." anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door will take you up to see the machine.' "On Monday." course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of questioning and rather startled gaze. as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in "Have you her photograph?" Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange the best of training." "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and everything which you would wish to know." weapon." which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. room had already been engaged for us. absolutely follow my advice in every respect." confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle him to go away.' gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, shag which I had seen upon the previous night. "No more words. Get out!" the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I the room while you explain this matter?" "That was it, sir." one which it was hard to resist. strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I that I am arrested." "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other "Pray do so." pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is "But the mystery?" held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter "Have you her photograph?" neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." "But you can know nothing of this?" highly," said Holmes. My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears IS on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has system of imprisonment?" little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to were new raised from a basin. in the hope of finding them." October 9, 1890. The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house "Frequently." written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our strong reason behind." 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out "And you don't know his address?" the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished Gutenberg-tm License. member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the "But you have hopes?" not interfere, come what may. You understand?" bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project States. casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was ventilator." happened." and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to "He might." the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. it? Did I buy the geese off you?" Farm upon the left." wife's character?" she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took here." "And why?" "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before was the fact that his father should, according to his account, valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain Stoke Moran." "None." the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, "That's no good." returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to she slowly sank and died without having recovered her from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the "Yes." method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, Dr. Gregory B. Newby "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been 'please.'" the morning and make my own way in the world.' dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as "What?" de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have sooner or later she must fall a victim. object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want "'And the work?' railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and "I am all attention, madam." is so. I know all about McCarthy." basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in without success. At last the little money which I had saved began call it cruel." went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could to have that photograph." been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his if I call to-morrow?" with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique enough to aid us in our search." flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would cigars in their mouths. disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a "Oh, fresh and glossy." waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his II. from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our "But the mystery?" walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. she has been waylaid. There has been no result." I was concerned in it." "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you "About a month then." possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people were wasted." in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the room had already been engaged for us. of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in seen the man in the road." "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when