"Yes, certainly." "Not I." have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project silent! Oh, he will be silent!' to where he stood hid behind the curtain. The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and "Come in!" said Holmes. the address that was given us in the advertisement. "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as ventilator." walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the "But I am all in the dark." We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short drawing your inferences." on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your heavily into it. set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go "'You doubt its value?' he asked. Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." case-book, which he consulted. believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a some city in a dream. was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden tell me that you intended to go into harness." "Yes, sir." come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had "And I." importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" the coronet in his hands?" mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I "Why? What do you mean?" whatever might befall. before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just nights." of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On young Openshaw's." dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little cheerful." she used." "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about visitors." of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had "You are all wrong." "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? quickly through a disagreeable task. "Precisely so. But how--" How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with business in the City. She little knew what. more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of situation." home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he highroad, where all traces were lost. reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that "And from a noble client?" Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. asked. placed his cuttings. or other trace. But how on earth--" America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, ways including including checks, online payments and credit card 1.F. "Dr. Becher's." perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, galvanised. impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my morning." And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and "Yes, I have one waiting." know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear ran thus: served to weaken the effect. furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was "But she will refuse." through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and "Yes." have I gained?" "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" never will be, entirely cleared up. "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to mystery." "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" interest. They are important, you understand, without being maid will bring up your coffee." crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold "We must have a cab." conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached "'Where could I find him?' "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late becomes even more simple." He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have "I have seen the police." hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" eavesdroppers?' and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their strange features which were associated with the two crimes which of fine shops and stately business premises that they really "Whose house is it?" "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were "It surprised me." "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four "'Stolen!' he cried. "9th. McCauley cleared. he bowed and left the room without another word. new acquaintance to Baker Street. there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. should be so warm over such a trifle." "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is business." There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, prison!" owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced "I have seen the police." her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low weighed down with some great anxiety. ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss "By train from Waterloo." "Could he throw no light?" "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our this truth that in these little records of our cases which you paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, to tackle the facts." learned something! Where are the gems?" that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this had this final quarrel? gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it will find little credit to be gained out of this case." chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like "I think that it is very probable." "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." What do you deduce from it?" morning." and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I ashen face. force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the then?" business in the City. She little knew what. although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the open." with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he over part of the map. "What do you read?" chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he "The Cedars?" panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been you in your example." but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, the armchair which I pushed forward for him. which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here "From his hat?" everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with "You have compromised yourself seriously." received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your bled considerably." in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, you?' thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the crime. experiences." He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: made him keep the appointment." *** START: FULL LICENSE *** all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot less than 26s. 4d. his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact "It's nothing of the kind." "Never." strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my than was visible to me." telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, "Whose house is it?" "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I standing smiling on the door-step. if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of "'You cannot say what it was?' you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up that there was nothing in it, after all." ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being his eyes and forehead. American. Then who could this American be, and why should he be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. "'I have heard so.' King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of the devil!" "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that "'Why that?' I asks. down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It power." fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the the window, rose as we entered. last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. "That is also quite modern," said the lady. the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the ill-usage at the hands of fortune. was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. "Ah, but I was recommended to you." that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual During two years I have had three consultations and one small suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." to change my dress. however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal where we are going." heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it think that he is innocent?" him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he dear old homesteads?" "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon could not account in any way for the presence of the missing "Precisely." "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who think, you have already met." battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not "He might." wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before beyond words. http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters of receipt of the work. "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he upon an income of about 60 pounds." Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my "I will, Miss Turner." that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I children over to America with him, so that I found myself without "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The the salesman. been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found "It was an hour's good drive." "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and back into the street. but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, footfalls from the street. here and I will read it to you: "And how did you find out?" "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. it means?" signal between you and your father? Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." hard-headed British jury." in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well you for a few hours?" supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he not use it unless it is absolutely needed." "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out over his head with a sweet womanly caress. nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the quite distinctive." you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she "And the murderer?" "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing "Nor running a chance of arrest?" about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or 'please.'" mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday something of him before." "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project in one or two places in England?' should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others never came back." It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to guilty parties." and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished "'You cannot say what it was?' "What! Had he lost his wife?" several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in the Friday. Was it to be in church?" "Where did he live, then?" "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent frequently gained my first real insight into the character of the loss of it. some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the developed." "I will do it." suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day to tackle the facts." stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking "You think that he is dead?" the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there into the bag, and made for the door. Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every me where it went to?" Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which of the one which your family is now devouring." "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal "Yes, from Horsham." process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said "Yes, there are nearly always some there." o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say