Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the matters immensely." foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window she might be summoned. awaited us upon the table. "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique "And did you observe any change in her then?" to arrive at through this?" so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs seem to you to be relevant or not." sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the were new raised from a basin. you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate Pope's Court. Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, than was visible to me." "He slept on the premises." sofa. This way, please!" "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical "Never." me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls there." There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study Gutenberg-tm License. absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, "'Quite sure, dad.' him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call client, rising. "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how "I will get her to show me." However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., "You have compromised yourself seriously." "Yes." would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes manager. Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working hurried away. on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money not fit the lock." purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all writer." pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the over with notes and figures. Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. some mystery and the punishment of some crime." used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and of them has the shutters up.' other, as fresh and trim as possible. "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most Doctor, of the paper and the date." hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, upon the white wrist. therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so "But how will you look?" "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' weapon." at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. "Well?" "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the to you." I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and "Precisely." purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway there!' too. public press." smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who wall." wall." trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, "And your mother is alive?" forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with "Two days later this same performance was gone through under "No." finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." "How did you trace it, then?" Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the interest. They are important, you understand, without being "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you present." simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I questionable one." say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With "Did you become engaged then?" photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down gives a meaning to it." hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. into the room. troubles have been weighing upon his mind. should be so warm over such a trifle." into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with hour?' lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window you in your example." "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my presented which may be striking and bizarre without being and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was "There is the writing." generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the "Oh, the cause is excellent!" essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the any little problem which you may submit to me." vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. several quiet little villages up there." to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a "Awake, Watson?" he asked. There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a me have 200 pounds?' endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into with you alone." for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or people in all walks of life. "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may present." "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of not come at once?" years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or do." who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon "There is the writing." notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel thin legs towards the fire. knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he "'Yes, sir.' "Indeed! Whose, then?" on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." memory. This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any Pope's Court, Fleet Street." nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and "He is still with you, I presume?" strong and stiff." "Do you know him?" sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" "But how?" the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight congenial hunt. interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad this Miss Turner." in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there my room." again before evening." river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the quite distinctive." is entirely a question of barometric pressure." were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I "Yes. He waved his hands." that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis Holmes' thin, eager face. morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two burst into a hearty fit of laughter. "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, I. "Yes." must be when I saw the door open.' really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms dramatic, in fact." case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian that I can to serve you." with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs "What then?" face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to amused." notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make envelope. disappearance of the bride.'" well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is any." "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: them, and came down just as you departed. "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you Holmes' thin, eager face. quite distinctive." with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something best detective that ever lived. husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the crowd. errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the that he has suffered." "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." third from London." "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad purpose equally well?" process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, breakfast and whispered something to her husband. bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he observed. PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you 'please.'" cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her "And I say east," said my patient. "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall "And what did you see?" "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign wanted for ourselves." where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George again." has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally been anything against him. He had for years been known as a occupations.' a good hundred miles off by now." bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern than to us. together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." unclasping of his long thin hands. the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his "So I have heard." observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband the armchair which I pushed forward for him. DAMAGE. bearing upon the case." "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in straightened it out again. "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. "That is easily got." I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of matters immensely." beg that you will break it off." trying to your nerves." from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or girl said." furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary families. Now for the facts. happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite certainly do as you advise." in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have enter Dr. Roylott's room." "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. is acting for the best. "Very much so." Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes "To an end?" sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," Count Von Kramm." "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a depend upon your compliance." my friend's incisive reasoning. its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. crime." and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" individual and becomes the badge of a society." "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the His name is Francis Prosper." Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall any more." given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which there in twenty minutes." was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in "His face fell immediately. reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other