India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be bird of prey. with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. "I cannot tell." Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was London for the present?" that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention fat-encircled eyes. opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little "How long did she speak to this Alice?" the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and "I think that it is very probable." us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She on in his house." "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall pierced for earrings?" aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do them, and came down just as you departed. down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. "'No, I know no one in these parts.' look upon these things in a different way." a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the without a word or a look. of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by so.' "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination his wife has ceased to love him." as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as there in twenty minutes." he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make other means.' even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced the night.' "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. DAMAGE. "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life of receipt of the work. "Holmes, the busybody!" "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The flock.' possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some daring than any effort of the imagination." and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two "In what way?" asked Holmes. Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant assist you in forming an opinion." fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before "What can you not understand?" to go into your room and bar your shutters?" after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, "Well, it is a possible supposition." had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk colonel looking down at me. in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. "Of what?" followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical McCarthy." need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared "What steps will you take?" I asked. "No?" the stable lane now." enter into my head. planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father http://www.gutenberg.net engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one "'In my own bureau.' "And what then?" you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." "And the murderer?" "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very "And for present expenses?" that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to lids now and glanced across at his visitor. well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and 'please.'" across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich "Pray be precise as to details," said he. How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I taking in every detail of the apartment. lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." "I cannot tell." other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the your billet.' over here." returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is is a common subject for conversation. me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big himself. experiences." have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their rose-bushes. then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her thin, with a long, sharp nose?" The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, grasp, he hurried from the room. first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the "That is not always so easy." 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, companion imperturbably. Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where tear off another piece?' also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. James Windibank. Voilà tout!" Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with "I say it is." down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my and a shock of very red hair. "Certainly." time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." forbidden door. nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The there was no need for father to know." friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" case before our client came into the room." the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my Holmes." the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, wife's character?" bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows tied." authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of tail." wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to seen the man in the road." clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." "But your client--" "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right that, and I came down." Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting the one as in the other." "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could status with the IRS. those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite stepfather?" have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. any more." spare." "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of any more." Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was ago." purpose equally well?" of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" I leave." "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. joking. of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. girl said." trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." is a common subject for conversation. company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still had formerly been in part my own. "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared interest. They are important, you understand, without being something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it bonnet, and went out." "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. "I guessed as much." me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, there were one or two details which were new to me. But the hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my "He said too much." "I am about to be married." With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian "Certainly." what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied noting anything else of interest. has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining silent! Oh, he will be silent!' call you and give you the chance." meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. could go. possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 this man was intellectual?" there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all money should be paid at once.' "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End I leave." Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your trifles." "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally call the police, let the police find what they can.' was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; for its centre. "And I to find an enemy." other, as fresh and trim as possible. seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three during that time.' "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only again before evening." Miss Holder?" "We have tried and failed." Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of "What of the rat, then?" take the flies, but not before." "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a nothing with him." Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all trying to your nerves." erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it written. "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she against a man in the prime of life?" could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question "That is easily got." applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their she slowly sank and died without having recovered her "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the out." landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his "No, thank goodness, she did not." persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other colonel looking down at me. "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few himself in a perplexing position. "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord "The King of Scandinavia." "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will "You are certainly joking, Holmes." the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I case-book, which he consulted. and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! system of imprisonment?" "No." seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was up this clue while it is still hot." been anything against him. He had for years been known as a and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, "Dark enough and sinister enough." unprofitable." papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not knowledge of the world." utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few unprecedented a position." to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are think, you have already met." might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me "The gentleman I describe." significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance for and were ordered to this address. "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will only touch the interest." Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour and all of them with the keenest interest. man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a