remarked. week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for investigation." with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of views." among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." following enigmatical notices: thin, with a long, sharp nose?" "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. to a light-house. "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." "None." "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. other lovers by making love himself." photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to detective. 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would "Yes." was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in the coronet in his hands?" violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." client, rising. "Not particularly." his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. rose-bushes. The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were "'Is purely nominal.' and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up "Ha! you find it so?" dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence standing smiling on the door-step. what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are "What I expected to see." "'What do you call purely nominal?' "I am armed." could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice signal between you and your father? I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from "But who is he?" you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." of your young ladies.' after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know "Could he throw no light?" been able to understand it, in a very few words. clang of the bell. bearing upon the case." for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and distance from the station, and there we found the young lady weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. brain must have something in it." opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. of the vacancies.' fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I "How can you tell that?" which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite had no one to advise her at such a crisis." derbies." certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. desk. The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements knowledge of the world." I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but down from London to inquire more deeply into it." helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman purpose equally well?" Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge Stoke Moran." alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my into the room. a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. "None." "That is not always so easy." there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought lamp. agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" I. "What of the rat, then?" ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from the roots. stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing "It is half-past ten now." "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I rooms." power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." "Has he come with you to-night?" style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have you found me to-night--and running through the front room she be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs was already answered. one of the states of the Union." these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his matters immensely." "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, this poor creature." must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond you in your example." I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had a few minutes he said that it would be all right. sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a "I will do it." burst out into a roar of laughter. "May I see it?" neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a "I guessed as much." "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must other lovers by making love himself." "You have carte blanche." of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down of a light. "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or daring than any effort of the imagination." valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." bonnet, and went out." lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was questioning and rather startled gaze. array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was constraint." "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle remarked. "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, "'And the work?' off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away breakfast?" "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come point our research must commence, and we will begin it by "By no means." 11:15.' full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the "And the murderer?" fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, get her out of the way." and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to "I am following you closely," I answered. black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed girl said." retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some them?" "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls "Yes, it was twisted." rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom writers could invent nothing more crude." newspaper selections." saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been leave you to your papers for a little." traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story Chief Executive and Director loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as yet." hurried away. a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel "But she will refuse." clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, "Quite so." "No." 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' to-night?' bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still My friend smiled. King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel call for protection in the marriage market, for the present fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible remarked. the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some affair. strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I troubles have been weighing upon his mind. and effective." intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." "I am all attention, madam." collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, undoubtedly my uncle's." what is your own theory as to what took place?" photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. "'What then?' I asked. liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be four million human beings all jostling each other within the then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the "If so, much may have happened between." either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and use an arc-and-compass breastpin." "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' long narrative. "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just disappearance of the bride.'" "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have "About a month then." "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one he died? Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, "The doctor?" I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled man. his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I Sholtos." his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is his knees, staring into the fire. "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send o'clock is it?" Holmes' face clouded over. "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six "Where, then, is my wife?" man. I know him from the photograph." play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't look upon these things in a different way." case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of I am not easy in my mind about them." shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. "By all means." Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or "Then I do not see the point." with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free "VIOLET HUNTER." strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing and I shall be with you presently." myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes "You are certainly joking, Holmes." them?" "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is cheerful." It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught "In the cells." It may be so in this case, also." returned to France?" the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' it. "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I stammered. that before taking the final step I should like to submit the "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." and prosperity to your house. Good-night." explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons problems help me to do so." "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious http://gutenberg.net/license). sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." The telegram which we eventually received came late one night shaken than I had ever seen him. person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on highroad, where all traces were lost. had a long day." side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. "No. His orders were to stay in the house." introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a "And your mother is alive?" morning." events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable cigars in the box." me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. and inquire as to the address." William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both "In answer to an advertisement." clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." back alive. of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and any little problem which you may submit to me." Holmes rather sternly. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were public press." "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured you understand?" son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured DAMAGE. "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no "No, finished." introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: highly," said Holmes. empty. the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be good-night and bustled off upon her way. "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." "And is that all?" circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I with you?" sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other tied." case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured