as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the with you?" the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a here and I will read it to you: closing the door. leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good highly," said Holmes. recover the gem." photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. London for the present?" case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite God! What an exposure! What can I do?" client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a hands. "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong bill, which interests me deeply." was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full "Witness: Nothing definite. Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from it right.' his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his "None." never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, and I shall be with you presently." "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more "I have solved it." nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think Watson," he said cordially. "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the Lee, in the county of Kent." "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly imbecility!" he cried. return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing "What?" "That also I could fathom." unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was horse could go." into the room. to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. opportunities to fix the problem. gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the questionable one." "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered "It surprised me." a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone "Yes." "Yes, there are nearly always some there." standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's intrusion of other matters." returning from some small jollification and was making his way sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have this poor creature." relation between them, and what the object of his repeated floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait "I have come for advice." can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. it? Did I buy the geese off you?" statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become skylight. the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg more terrible than the truth. her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the one of the states of the Union." St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there business." forbidden door. found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this to go into your room and bar your shutters?" o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES "Oh, yes, easily." she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the "There is the writing." "You horrify me." He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my was not a bird to be seen there. and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey was used.' 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built "The decline of his fortunes, then?" "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" mysterious business." one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit bare slabs of marble. me have 200 pounds?' any little problem which you may submit to me." "No, I am descending." felt the room to be a little close.' that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving Arthur Conan Doyle belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay His name is Francis Prosper." of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple the window, rose as we entered. this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and most important business. It is probable that he will be away all rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he carpenter." "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." if she died from some sudden fright." and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, know that the truth is known." "Why? What do you mean?" we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open presented more singular features than that which was associated where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he "I was afraid that you were engaged." this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a it means?" have accepted such a situation. "Won't it ring?" Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is help us in this matter." sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was out of this horrible affair." her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very "It is very kind of you." "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the "Did you observe the colour?" and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds the armchair which I pushed forward for him. prison!" "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was "I answered that I had not. peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very taking in every detail of the apartment. explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." examine." Holmes rather sternly. Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a "To ruin me." of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may once more to my work. amused." writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been husband's writing, madam." then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, "Why, what do you mean?" There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the knowledge of the world." weapon." "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must "You were travelling in the States?" "But you were on a friendly footing?" client, rising. me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." then?" take the flies, but not before." remarked. o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under she used." "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could "'Never,' said I. low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our "That is also quite modern," said the lady. only touch the interest." might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was minor matters until to-morrow." Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't "A greater distance to travel." it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and tied." brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it for and were ordered to this address. "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from wall." that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. purpose equally well?" Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that gone. themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. "It may not come to that," said Holmes. have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his "It's nothing of the kind." King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be depend upon my doing so.' 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she with you alone." place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was "But of what society?" "It is his hat." "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram in his hands." beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like hair?' possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and your Highness to the police-station?" rose-bushes. case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from most interesting one." "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! "It is very clear." informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel that the gas is not laid on in his house?" "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who straightened it out again. nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." whole matter to your consideration." have I gained?" "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as congenial hunt. "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both "In the cells." they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other there!' look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and could gather together that I was able to avert another public home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can went to the Alpha were town bred." "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must "How did you trace it, then?" man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, Stoke Moran." seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ "And your father? Did you tell him?" frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert the Assizes." streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many important." hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, "But the mystery?" rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence troubles have been weighing upon his mind. affection." thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to "You horrify me." Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the giving me time to thank him. "But the mystery?" "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We round and wave him away like that.' near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." Where does the thing come from?' aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I "Witness: I must still refuse. assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was depend upon my doing so.' got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the "How did that help you?" "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have "Here?" - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already "Stoke Moran?" said he. The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark License. You must require such a user to return or opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for asked. Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." through." assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may other, as fresh and trim as possible. Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, said he, "my real name is James Ryder." a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the charge against him will break down." work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was seem to you to be relevant or not." when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid in this way: "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this stepfather?" think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little "Yes." expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the States. His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the cup of tea. the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a ago." running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead "Then I am your man." dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had out of this horrible affair." the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' "I think that it is very probable." prove to be little relation between the different incidents of in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be learned something! Where are the gems?" "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into his huge brown hands. "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at