prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out morning." 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I "That is it on the dressing-table." see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. 1.F. then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with behind me. his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about article?" office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who the very morning of the wedding." Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of "How often?" "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I http://www.gutenberg.net twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of "The knees of his trousers." young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet outside." "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I "The rest you will leave in our hands." and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It "And Miss Sutherland?" "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; nothing with him." room had already been engaged for us. "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is companion. "May I see it?" hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in crowd. that want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has indeed happy." framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That "'What do you call purely nominal?' with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried It was close upon four before the door opened, and a derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to said he. the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended be there in time for your coming." the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual most interesting one." remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I "But what harm can there be in that?" refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to examination of the premises, but without finding anything which and capable of preserving a secret.' money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! eavesdroppers?' "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" *** START: FULL LICENSE *** could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to she has been waylaid. There has been no result." "I cannot imagine." must be when I saw the door open.' fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. and the church but not where the lady lived." "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been third from London." it." He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, "Witness: It was. chambers. "A thing like a cleaver," said he. of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally key turn in the lock." "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. with you?" present strange and interesting features that it is no easy were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest himself to tell his story. my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the "So I have heard." iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming "I should like to see him very much." "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it "I promise," said Holmes. reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled young Openshaw's." "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a "Yes, he did." searched, without anything being found which could incriminate arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, "'Most admirably.' young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his "But how will you look?" pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and it." the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little "And did you observe any change in her then?" cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." shall use the carriage to-night." it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his a monotonous occupation." hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it "When did she vanish, then?" intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of of it with the greatest attention. "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this ready to-morrow?' "'Which dealer's?' "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had I nodded again. October 9, 1890. "It certainly sounds feasible." "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. "'Yes.' red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have "The Coroner: What do you mean? "Yes, I have one waiting." liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a mystery may be cleared along those lines." "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to me. of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me "My stepfather's business papers." landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods little trying to do so much typewriting?" preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. details." chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the were new raised from a basin. "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside other means.' "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that speckled band?" enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who annoyance, but no jest. his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in "It was." several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid business." bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the back alive. age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters information in his hands the value of which he did not himself betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of what I may call a really hard day's work." presume?" year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." "I should like to see him very much." round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is there has been an enclosure here!" was it brought him the coronet? "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up could gather together that I was able to avert another public should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been bell. Holmes whistled. breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off wedding?" complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment present." of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. "I shall be delighted." "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution least a most suspicious remark." glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary "Yes, sir." fishes. "Perhaps I have." always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its province." dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots events, Mr. Windibank!" "She told me to ask you." during the last few years, and there are many noble families to was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be business matters.' "None. Neville wrote those words." said I. help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a someone who had been in Australia." had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared other lovers by making love himself." overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the "You have but to name it." "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a brain must have something in it." knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing meant." Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur over with notes and figures. "There are none." tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard Lestrade of Scotland Yard." "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an the side-table." that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe better grown goose." them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the "Yes." so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in "Nothing." that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the "It is a murder, then?" in a very precise fashion." this man was intellectual?" his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." the night.' I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter "I will not look." did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the "I think that it is very probable." look dissatisfied." accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can past. branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this "It is solved." machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the "You did not overhear what they said?" received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his "Where did you address your letters, then?" which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had leaning back in his chair. three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it three fields round his house, and there he would take his very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he important." follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and highly," said Holmes. "You horrify me!" law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and vague figure huddled up in the darkness. been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two papers diligently of late, have you not?" "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked man. I know him from the photograph." "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear "The landlord of the Alpha." find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up hardly wander." of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it forebodings. "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon good for you to do.' relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow of campaign. in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but all-comprehensive glances. That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not there!' "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by putting in the horse. Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now foot. call it cruel." "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to the one as in the other." pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what "And your mother is alive?" flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, Literary Archive Foundation style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have "Upon what point?" railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their "That is it on the dressing-table." this poor creature." "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I stood on the top of it. his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. "Only as much as we can deduce." some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked "Yes, at the mines." secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. "Then I can wait in the next room."