no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered joking. august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had again, where I was soon asleep. "He said that you could solve anything." "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to was lame." would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then through." window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the bedroom door." voice. centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this of Mr. Rucastle's." I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had "You have but to name it." made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my bore every mark of being an average commonplace British "She showed me, as I told you she would." I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of "How did you trace it, then?" "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, "Absolutely?" certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more is," said he presently: he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we to-night?' my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from Holmes rather sternly. I was concerned in it." Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the better in every way that they should make their position a little "That is easily got." He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of public press." father's place of business?" "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" existence." his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking these bleak autumnal evenings." "Perhaps I have." "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, been lifted and conveyed somewhere." these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet "Pray let us have it, for all that." the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings "Yes." give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from which are rolled in Rotterdam." "Yes." jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a "And help." The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over your own bird, so if you wish--" lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the "Of what?" It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little will he say when he returns?" trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the which our visitor detailed to us. were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, the loss of it. hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his him." "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, "'Very good.' my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of "Not social, then?" "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you "Yes, all." Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the said he. refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should purpose equally well?" position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists how narrow had been my escape. here." little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because "'And the work?' American. Then who could this American be, and why should he free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home "How did you trace it, then?" the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the in this way: morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted maiden herself was most instructive." and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort weighed down with some great anxiety. o'clock is it?" 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was "I am all attention, madam." often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend redistribution. and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted that, and I came down." It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause enough to aid us in our search." beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey "But it has twice been burgled." from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, straighten it?" lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm "She will not sell." "What shall I do?" suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take there was no need for father to know." it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet light and attacked it." What do you deduce from it?" his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." "'Ample.' during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the "What is it, then--a fire?" it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, "Yes, only one." one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" Munro.' lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and "Have you her photograph?" ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I the general public were present, then?" immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through from the brougham. "What have you done?" asked Holmes. "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a Surrey." and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at "And I say east," said my patient. know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, "And how have you succeeded?" weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see train from Paddington which would bring you there at about "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for "I cannot say that I have." data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year "What is it, then--a fire?" certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." your Highness to the police-station?" my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled happened." stammered. "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons some terrible trap for her." your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that "Were they all fastened this morning?" the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. to-night." Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the affection." charged with?" "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being the King without delay." "'Certainly not. But why?' stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. existence." "One horse?" interjected Holmes. stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in "What?" "But the mystery?" clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked corner of the building. bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a matter over." do.' certainly do as you advise." decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before "Where did he live, then?" I took the paper from him and read as follows: something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since bears upon the case?" abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you system of imprisonment?" to you." "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how putting in the horse. have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous and capable of preserving a secret.' "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, for securing the situation." voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** security.' "Certainly." derbies." likely to be some crony of the landlady's." of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are "That is possible." from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." "What then?" very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It I held the little printed slip to the light. became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up "The King of Scandinavia." The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the lids now and glanced across at his visitor. instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, "Do you know him?" Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when purpose of examination. most important business. It is probable that he will be away all Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and had this final quarrel? railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I completely overtopped every other consideration that we both lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." people don't know." "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some "In San Francisco, a year ago." "Well." "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond his cane at the bell-pull. manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. "My opinion is in no way altered." "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the ill-usage at the hands of fortune. a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such "I am to be neutral?" it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind even so self-evident a thing as that." see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a seven miles from Eyford Station.' back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to acted in my house last night?" violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a in him." me, and I could not think that his explanation of the Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for the inquest, and which are worth considering." was already answered. spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of impression behind it as though a window had gently closed round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which "Well, some hundreds of times." "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do "Yes, sir." that you saw all that I did." several quiet little villages up there." was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain writer." prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out that, and I came down." electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers "Look there!" said he. with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to through." "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But least a fellow-countryman. "No, but the enclosure is." how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set me, and I could not think that his explanation of the learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not this unhappy family?" "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What "And who is her maid?" about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the again before evening." 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I returning from some small jollification and was making his way "By no means." I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his "The best possible." "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform "Stolen." sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. ways of our fellow-men." child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the without a word or a look. "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. society." Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call fuss that is made over them." so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were whether it answered to the description of any of their trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head is worth.'