than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white "And it is--" return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an without a word or a look. "That's no good." "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out "So it appears." dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did appointment with me for six o'clock?" "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my Have you good authority for what you say?" "He might." with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get you." Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I "What office?" is a common subject for conversation. instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before you." urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be "What is it, then--a fire?" Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all once more. of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers a good hundred miles off by now." aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small "Ha! you find it so?" him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which "Murdered?" green of the new foliage. any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John the very letters. But what is this written above them?' other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if to some other building. of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George without a word or a look. brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken "At the wedding breakfast." black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and away to you." "Ten will be early enough." Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not tapping his fingers upon the table. lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue "We must have a cab." complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its as he remarks, very much against the son." handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well meant." what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." "The decline of his fortunes, then?" Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. during which he might have communicated with his friend the "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a ventilator." possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' "To ruin me." erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached formed some opinion?" Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure husband's writing, madam." Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" think that he is innocent?" impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I "Never." dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of "'There is a drive, then?' news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed weapon." along the entire front of the house, with three long windows through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the papers on the sundial.'" He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our "But your client--" police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter in him." after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had Sholtos." Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. "You heard nothing yourself last night?" Miss Holder?" "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The leave you to your papers for a little." screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and "What is it?" known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the stammered. "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know back to my heart. it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a what these perils are?" the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his characteristics, but those are the more obvious." the bottom.' "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your "A client, then?" "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the asked. of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in "'What are you doing there?' he asked. fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to morning." away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence night.' said he. chance." think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a "'As governess?' nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made Eyford at 11:15.' whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and your Highness to the police-station?" the dangers which encompass me." fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more money should be paid at once.' the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes I am not easy in my mind about them." have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss For additional contact information: o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. me. could not account in any way for the presence of the missing entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from next day. Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow "No." Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the Watson," he said cordially. happened." "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any very morning of my second wedding." abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" "Yes, all." What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ washing it down with a long draught of water. It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. of a light. there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be status with the IRS. feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this would then never go into court at all." what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, girl said." and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily "And you don't know his address?" prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an "Very truly yours, Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both this remarkable episode. use an arc-and-compass breastpin." smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it "The landlord of the Alpha." "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught "It must be recovered." each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. "No?" "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project "What then?" practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a detained." facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. if I call to-morrow?" jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I you in yours." housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not the address that was given us in the advertisement. window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled trying to your nerves." seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you "You did not overhear what they said?" strong reason behind." like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his Heh?' "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing hour." front of the hall door has given its name to the place. into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from "'Tell me all about it,' said I. "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." my special province." manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." "You have it, sir, just as it happened." putting in the horse. I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. ready to-morrow?' a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a What do you deduce from it?" of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a is entirely a question of barometric pressure." "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." views." "I guessed as much." you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled occupations.' closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the "You have compromised yourself seriously." back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, works. of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently if only as a check to my own memory." "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in that you saw all that I did." even so self-evident a thing as that." "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second so.' eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." chance at all." dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the "If so, much may have happened between." "What then?" here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted secret." elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the you for a few hours?" do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." "In which, sir?" he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door empty. When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." detained." vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the province." "'What would be the hours?' I asked. dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, the stable lane now." investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came good for you to do.' "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to some mystery and the punishment of some crime." little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his "And your father? Did you tell him?" Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no soul! here is her carriage at the door." to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing in this way: "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no sparkled upon his finger. persecution?" over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a "Well." three fields round his house, and there he would take his I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any your most interesting statement." "But how will you look?" large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of fashion which was peculiar to him. He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than