held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' "Yes." the dangers which encompass me." can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey "Her father is very rich?" had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the "Awake, Watson?" he asked. think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than His name is Francis Prosper." professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, new duties?' I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the "You'll never persuade me to believe that." heavily into it. seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for strange features which were associated with the two crimes which rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather the station." "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy will not take me long to tell. Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." "Yes, it was twisted." two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he "You have carte blanche." from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, lamp. 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church place no limit on the sum I may draw." before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. "What?" Does that suggest anything?" "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the in him." legal crime." "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your "And how did he make his money?" have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, instincts rose up against that laugh. "I would give my fortune to have them back." stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any where Mr. Fordham shows you.' obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the strength." taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." look dissatisfied." "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account carried out of court." "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, "My last client of the sort was a king." This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: it? Did I buy the geese off you?" from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of was lame." there was no need for father to know." copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative "And why?" certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the points to suicide?" "Deserted you?" may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and with you?" whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or crackling voice. immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can The events in question occurred in the early days of my Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round woven round him. gone. the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email one or two very singular points about this room. For example, "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the relation between them, and what the object of his repeated of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only his face. our word." man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would as he folded up the epistle. stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the "The knees of his trousers." brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a to you." the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet and the colonel ushered me in. hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked "What will you do, then?" God! What an exposure! What can I do?" friend's singular character. problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which be.' police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and most interesting one." back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic said I. "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and the very morning of the wedding." the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the developed." to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey existence." I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a to have been novel and of interest." state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the photograph?" with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was the date of his supposed suicide." and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." "Thank you. Pray proceed." station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek examination of the premises, but without finding anything which of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. "Oh, yes, easily." call for protection in the marriage market, for the present strength of mind to control. cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would "What will you do, then?" column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks once more on the important position which you have been fortunate among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the "No. His orders were to stay in the house." "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he "It is half-past ten now." hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She house for five minutes.' play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard "Witness: It was. knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but John Swain, of St. Augustine. man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across DISSOLVED. look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in like gravel from a pit.' the window, rose as we entered. good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place which our visitor detailed to us. found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email said he, "my real name is James Ryder." pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly back alive. strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, events, Mr. Windibank!" some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are his face which made him a very different person to the round, "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. deduce something from that?" room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face "And sit in the dark?" "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he gentleman's clothes. quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had been." settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that business came to an end." developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You cost them two and thirty pounds." of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and business." Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from footfalls from the street. be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. this Miss Turner." "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major him nearly every evening." in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his "'And what salary do you ask?' entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his useful material for showing traces. The double line a little sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave "Now, then, what's the last entry?" "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will once more on the important position which you have been fortunate through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the the Friday. Was it to be in church?" It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up sparkled upon his finger. When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert "None." will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." "But your client--" "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian whether it answered to the description of any of their took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other "Stolen, then." St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are way in." a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was signal between you and your father? "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more Lee, in the county of Kent." should be taken.' backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." and capable of preserving a secret.' Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to Holmes' face clouded over. been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! had picked up in the wood. against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally would then never go into court at all." "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to test if we have an answer to our advertisement." accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for in a very precise fashion." learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at "Pray do so." "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will gbnewby@pglaf.org character. son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of upon the white wrist. "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's "'You doubt its value?' he asked. long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been "Stolen, then." swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" "I say that I have solved it." did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that John Swain, of St. Augustine. very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when "Yes, only one." The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their "Yes, there are nearly always some there." turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had your Highness to the police-station?" surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign forebodings. whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who "No, I am descending." the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid very peculiar words of the dying woman?" steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down "Bought." Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very attention." be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I where she found matters as described by the last witness. unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary "What do you make of that, Watson?" Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her name is different." "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by that?' decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then morning." "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing breakfast." "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the "By train from Waterloo." lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never keep the flames under. said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the II. conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the I shall communicate with you." "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning these bleak autumnal evenings." allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his feature." outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven