"Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. handed it to him. upon the sideboard." continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and with frightened eyes at his accuser. inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. "Stoke Moran?" said he. it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again your co-operation." "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and situation." Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know my room." intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of without success. At last the little money which I had saved began uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the she to prove their authenticity?" customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would fear." would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down assist you in forming an opinion." "You forget that I know nothing about it." firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at noise which awoke you from your sleep?" "What can it mean?" I gasped. that I am arrested." status with the IRS. observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for of Fenchurch Street." Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the joking. week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, stepfather?" quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You papers on the sundial.'" subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed "But to whom?" came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the that before taking the final step I should like to submit the better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a "You have compromised yourself seriously." I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." "There are none." back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest anything to do with the matter?" thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" laugh and put his lips to my ear. "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the "What! You do not mean bodies?" than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more "Well." "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The answered with a sidelong glance. been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." stammered. whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning "Where, then, is my wife?" corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself where she found matters as described by the last witness. photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging bed dies. Does not that strike you?" the roots. your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door "But we can't all be." Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be "I promise," said Holmes. Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready "Quite so." "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my morning." his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus records." the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the made him keep the appointment." her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and behind me. nights." "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, occurred." animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the "Frequently." covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that "I beg pardon." my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to "And sit in the dark?" when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same Holmes' face clouded over. has little to do with my story." happened." I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the in one or two places in England?' to that open window." of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning "Where did you address your letters, then?" All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he "'I have already given you my word.' Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary what do you think they found in the pockets?" journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty Eyford." man. disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in "I say that I have solved it." little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should vanished into the darkness. "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and face and glided from the room. flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, "I cannot imagine." buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would "An accident, I presume?" "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his "But how did you gain them?" which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! this man was intellectual?" lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, "Why did you beat the pavement?" prepare for the new role I have to play." "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who any little problem which you may submit to me." "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking works. See paragraph 1.E below. which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis trying to your nerves." girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. system of imprisonment?" bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately be there in time for your coming." with her." Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." experiences." first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me his face. if she died from some sudden fright." remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right "And you thought he was pulled back?" Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw fatally injured? "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty at a side door. Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in acted in my house last night?" "I have my revolver," said I. quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but used to be." hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this excitement. journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the "Where did you address your letters, then?" of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you that I am arrested." "But we can't all be." the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is good for you to do.' status with the IRS. "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint note?" from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. maiden herself was most instructive." with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the could not account in any way for the presence of the missing passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any already been minutely examined." pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up now. It seems that there had been some informality about their "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was despair." "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But "Never." sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. "Not him." freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your "What! You do not mean bodies?" who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact better grown goose." "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. other, as fresh and trim as possible. passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down October 9, 1890. The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I "I am in hopes that she does." "Indeed! Whose, then?" "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a in the dead of the night?' the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and characteristics, but those are the more obvious." For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right you in yours." expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, "Indeed! Whose, then?" taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to "That is unusual in a young girl." himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on over here." brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the "You are all wrong." a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good his grey eyes. "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened "'About the same.' in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my overpowering excitement and concern. reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. returned to France?" "Quite so." the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion passage and a tap at the door. Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And like that before?" behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front down. certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a have established a very serious case against the son of the this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and 1.E.9. "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some see me here to avoid scandal." he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, mysterious end." burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into "'Stolen!' he cried. "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. "What, then?" keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback overpowering excitement and concern. "Texas, I think." and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been brought there to personate someone, and the real person is for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, recall any case within my experience which looked at the first Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that suddenly upon us." "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself my room." London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were