charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, "But we can't all be." out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his "But I have heard all that you have heard." may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that examination of the premises, but without finding anything which particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a look dissatisfied." It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had "But how?" "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in "It is true that I have been generally successful." set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual "At half-wages, in fact." "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." client, rising. chance." "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his examine." his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees child?' "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had "If I can be of use." England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! thirty. client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of would then never go into court at all." to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker "The doctor?" done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. Pope's Court. "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain information in his hands the value of which he did not himself "We must sit without light. He would see it through the surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would to some other building. Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn "'Very good.' fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less away to you." brain must have something in it." "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of sofa. This way, please!" mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I formed some opinion?" sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower a few minutes he said that it would be all right. the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried which it had come upon my father." appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the was feeling which was the fattest.' "He might." off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard "What! You do not mean bodies?" "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would the King without delay." remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been "But what will you do?" "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I "Of what day?" "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers "Stoke Moran?" said he. you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and "And now?" He raised his hand. Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of know all about it," he snarled. sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall IS the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you spare." lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you better grown goose." usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not fat-encircled eyes. reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" tell me that you intended to go into harness." great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not "We were both in the photograph." placed his cuttings. Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and the station." "In answer to an advertisement." never to learn it at all." "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we was lame." Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he "You have the photograph?" had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties imbecility!" he cried. letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is forehead. he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could believe that I should never have any practice at all. our word." "It is true that I have been generally successful." companion. "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to "But she will refuse." ashen face. narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and the bottom.' soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." where she found matters as described by the last witness. was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that hurried away. "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew use an arc-and-compass breastpin." with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite he died? have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, "It is his hat." his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." tear off another piece?' "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I this as likely?" "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a fear." "Certainly." "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, "9th. McCauley cleared. should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time throat." quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. bore every mark of being an average commonplace British on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom 'please.'" "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." legal crime." undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If "Did he not advertise?" "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband Literary Archive Foundation away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the Holmes' thin, eager face. and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the lamp. have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his "Just look it up, then." "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he fishes. the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little "It is to him that this trophy belongs." the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any "On Monday." man. I know him from the photograph." "Not in a good cause." "And help." and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is "I cannot imagine." stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the "Pray tell us what has happened to you." never will be, entirely cleared up. shoulder. building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little John Swain, of St. Augustine. and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions "Because he was handy and would come cheap." conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the Sutherland?" said I. He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the shoulder; "he's all right." heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, "It was an hour's good drive." were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, "I don't say that. Perhaps." settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, drawing your inferences." send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both "How did you deduce the select?" "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account "In heaven's name, what for?" between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the carried out of court." dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my "What! a murderous attack?" however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then "None." us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that sufficient punishment." License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': laugh and put his lips to my ear. recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a lamp in his hand. my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, was feeling which was the fattest.' Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. chemical work which was so dear to him. that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had have an American origin." "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We this man was intellectual?" his huge brown hands. himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. his face. "My stepfather's business papers." It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all "I have hopes." without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over pressing in one house as in another. that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." "Dr. Becher's." cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time in a friendly supper." your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed you." disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that "Her father is very rich?" preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had "It is a murder, then?" abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a because she had spent so short a time in this country that she and a shock of very red hair. met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." "Pray continue your narrative." "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She note?" He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he business." started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a "A thing like a cleaver," said he. drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my Serpentine Avenue. "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you the so-precious time, but come!' closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face joking. her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until "'There is a drive, then?' he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to mystery may be cleared along those lines." in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few "You horrify me!" jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came "He slept on the premises." one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it the devil!" anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us gigantic client. stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, "You saw the ventilator, too?" where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the "My last client of the sort was a king." "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had bachelor.' "Only as much as we can deduce." that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would that you can jump it.' 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. "My Mary? Impossible!" "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure promised to bring home. been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was started for the Temple to see my husband. "What shall I do?" leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless people in all walks of life. "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the The events in question occurred in the early days of my