"Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most is four-and-twenty." has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her could not have written that. It is the German who is so process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you perplexity from it to my illustrious client. "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I "Very well, sir. And this stone?" "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done frequently gained my first real insight into the character of bird of prey. "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." your room." laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, invisible to me," I remarked. comes from the middle window." cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet "Frequently." firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One said he at last. which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was have established a very serious case against the son of the Heh?' revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at ceremony." above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the "Not him." married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was "I should like to see him very much." you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had been anything against him. He had for years been known as a me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the were new raised from a basin. "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in fluttered off among the others. his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" "Whose house is it?" never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his standing smiling on the door-step. weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As depend upon your compliance." I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, business matters.' tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite fish-monger and a tide-waiter." by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in "Oh, fresh and glossy." woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" she might be summoned. "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. "What then?" upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. washing it down with a long draught of water. but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on in his power. annoyance, but no jest. grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up asked. best detective that ever lived. building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' I was concerned in it." flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building chambers. cause to be." which our visitor detailed to us. "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I this poor creature." "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a of Fenchurch Street." some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of you." her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous like that before?" great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. certainly do as you advise." though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your "Then how many are there?" "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of and no precautions can guard against." and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other Street. he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may "That's no good." it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the instincts rose up against that laugh. seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the "'No, I know no one in these parts.' I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" "It is no ordinary one." light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, along the entire front of the house, with three long windows about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have that I can to serve you." "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you money should be paid at once.' its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week to change my dress. whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If the dangers which encompass me." them?" ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded "In which, sir?" have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the instincts rose up against that laugh. this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of "Not in a good cause." broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the waste of energy." c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my with you alone." "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers "How are you getting on?" hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at things are very often connected not with the larger but with the see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than as yours." "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You information in his hands the value of which he did not himself "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from that you can jump it.' still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He ready to-morrow?' gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock for securing the situation." "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect "Pray continue your narrative." without a word or a look. the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which works. See paragraph 1.E below. the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building interests were the same as his." through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. that threaten you." noble correspondent could be. most important business. It is probable that he will be away all "I would give my fortune to have them back." "He might." "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back "'Entirely.' the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by place, I think that there is good ground to think that the wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other with the outside air!" the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his observed. then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion "We must have a cab." once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his "How many? I don't know." had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded figure." the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and that you wished to speak to me?' between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look just called myself is not exactly my own." his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is "From his hat?" the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a "What have you done?" asked Holmes. learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his relation between them, and what the object of his repeated knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their "Yes. He waved his hands." it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up breakfast?" "But to whom?" "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not within hail.' stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my that he has suffered." such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable affair. over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk that?' "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. annoyance, but no jest. you." "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker suspect him." and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a some place of shelter and let the county police know what has "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the the morning and make my own way in the world.' "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through depend upon your compliance." myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent "That is it on the dressing-table." "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these who was a member of your goose club." "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the to me. head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, "I say it is." cup of tea. "How long did she speak to this Alice?" manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is purpose equally well?" matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had became a certainty. Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the she slowly sank and died without having recovered her There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to my special province." Where does the thing come from?' between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance them, and came down just as you departed. "Game for a morning drive?" the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. "But how?" "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my "That is it on the dressing-table." Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was I shall continue with my miserable story. "I have hopes." All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his "May I see it?" hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of my friend's incisive reasoning. down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than "And help." "The rest you will leave in our hands." north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little everything which you would wish to know." old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally seven miles from Eyford Station.' spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four and put his glass in his pocket. "Your sister is dead, then?" whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I "Oh, fresh and glossy." outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. notes," he said. word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir wedding?" deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and do.' for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was future lives." moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, "'I am sure if I had known--' the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut "Where, then?" My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came to affect your life." answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and "That you are never beaten." leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was to talk it over. your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as "Witness: It was. together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had man. I know him from the photograph." I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter "I promise," said Holmes. I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled sake, don't!" "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to that he will be back before evening." Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. into the room. had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found His name is Francis Prosper." of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord have accepted such a situation. "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you "Well, it is a possible supposition." face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' speckled band?" headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round