Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock digesting their breakfasts at home." in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' yet." which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a criminal. We have already had experience of such." have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without promised to bring home. would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and he bowed and left the room without another word. "Witness: It was. ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and "No." were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the excitement. fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the your equipment. his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking the iron safe, which he closed upon it. strength of mind to control. think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the "You think that he is dead?" importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture because she had spent so short a time in this country that she sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" http://www.gutenberg.net shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as From what you have told me I think that it is possible that "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. "Certainly." in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his "And how did you verify them?" Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she hurried by. it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any "And how?" any." out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's skylight. as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can started for the Temple to see my husband. the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." "Of what day?" "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his swore that no one else had been in the front room during the from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," families. Now for the facts. It was close upon four before the door opened, and a hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over main points of my analysis." case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between "I shall be delighted." "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a speckled band?" editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really think, you have already met." relief. we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some "'Yes, sir.' money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy have an American origin." "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this cigars in their mouths. And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining "How are you getting on?" Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how have I gained?" when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps "You saw the ventilator, too?" gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' in a friendly supper." "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five hour?' "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own will find little credit to be gained out of this case." inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." married her." "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and some mystery and the punishment of some crime." Pope's Court, Fleet Street." and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be "The landlord of the Alpha." "Certainly." then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. papers diligently of late, have you not?" pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. Edgeware Road. seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it "'How far from the body?' puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." Holmes' room. "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a third from London." the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever tell them apart.' bachelor.' Lee, in the county of Kent." you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one chemical work which was so dear to him. pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." "Very well, sir. And this stone?" "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will "Frequently." 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something there was no need for father to know." the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. you." "You did not overhear what they said?" know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At obstinate." of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is "We must have a cab." boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be "Tired-looking or fresh?" "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new corner of the building. the general public were present, then?" "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your "No." "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change "Dirty?" Young McCarthy must be got off, however." little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination arrangements." but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up "Your presence might be invaluable." depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the yet." had formerly been in part my own. that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant "What! a murderous attack?" "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias "I assure you that I am in your hands." "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such her also." trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." "My Mary? Impossible!" "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he an introduction to him?" foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in he. not personally threatened." discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little hard-headed British jury." least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), gentleman's clothes. before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by envelope. and I shall be with you presently." "My dear Holmes!" "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' "Of Friday, June 19th." for securing the situation." wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our fishes. office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small never came back." which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my goes." stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is 1.E.9. "What?" might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began "I beg pardon." wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction "My Mary? Impossible!" occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention once more on the important position which you have been fortunate "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave "Was the window open?" in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the "She told me to ask you." 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email strode off upon his way. scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been I was concerned in it." as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at if I call to-morrow?" "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be what is your own theory as to what took place?" "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. there when the Rucastles went away." follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the strength." "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his father's place of business?" resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very thin legs towards the fire. Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. look upon these things in a different way." vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in "That is easily got." "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I "It must be recovered." license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them long narrative. "The knees of his trousers." "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful village inn over there?" continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's "To an English lawyer named Norton." brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the one of them." sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the three fields round his house, and there he would take his broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting and looked back. a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, chambers. Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian interested in these little problems, and since you are good o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. "None." the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and locked." to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman cigars in their mouths. "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by "What do you mean?" ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always ashen face. bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather your room." "That also I could fathom." "Come in!" said he. is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been front of me. I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter dramatic, in fact." "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never wedding?" unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the "Never to return." he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the bled considerably." which was all perfectly true. railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but astonishment. set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 legal crime." scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have "Where to?" hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. are windows in it, of course?" my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four "Have you her photograph?" sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." dramatic, in fact." for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready answer." thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. newspaper selections." Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per