fact, we may call it conclusive." as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the a very grave face. man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing my special province." very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you said I. case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss interest. They are important, you understand, without being One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her "So I am. Very much so." after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an them?" it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before directors have had misgivings upon the subject." lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are some mystery and the punishment of some crime." had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. enter into my head. "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and a suggestive one." voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 to change my dress. professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias asked with his eyes open. Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of "No?" province." bled considerably." A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we "And why?" where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." to have been novel and of interest." "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt "Dark enough and sinister enough." "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through "Precisely." Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a "We have tried and failed." "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in the coronet in his hands?" things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to you do it in twenty minutes!' home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not "I would pay ten." glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you Munro.' after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. "Game for a morning drive?" "But to whom?" "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, "I am sure." fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." furiously. "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes putting in the horse. them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed "No, I am descending." the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a legal crime." or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such fire. You quite follow me?" that I can to serve you." of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel have one." freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if The police have openly confessed that they can at present make "What can it mean?" I gasped. with the outside air!" rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of "Stolen." Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter have been better. It is all right." the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building read over the extraordinary announcement. long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said good-night and bustled off upon her way. with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, fishes. turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" *** START: FULL LICENSE *** "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which it." This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must "'Certainly not. But why?' diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior "Holmes, the busybody!" "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the The King stared at him in amazement. lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too look upon these things in a different way." returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but it were putty." "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. "Did you observe the colour?" willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. heavily into it. assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman this Miss Turner." stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only heavily into it. another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his within hail.' We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the tail." the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has writers could invent nothing more crude." comes from the middle window." "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old useful material for showing traces. The double line a little "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for "Were they all fastened this morning?" these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the floor. the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting get the tickets." as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any my friend's incisive reasoning. Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you "What is it, then--a fire?" James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence salesman. twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too "But what will you do?" "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of details." the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a "In answer to an advertisement." "On your arm?" to Leatherhead. "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and a monotonous occupation." upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for some mystery and the punishment of some crime." glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." to go into your room and bar your shutters?" The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a "I think that I had better go, Holmes." unprofitable." "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three Mary, has deserted me." Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving absorbing." this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be minor matters until to-morrow." was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and "And how have you succeeded?" fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the "'Certainly,' I answered. mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned not as remarkable as your advertisement." "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and "'What, the red-headed man?' Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he "My private note-paper." Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might "Nearly eleven." returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the nonsense.' France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the written, and locked the door of the office after me. "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called appeal." my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, the stable lane now." help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a as he folded up the epistle. A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still vague figure huddled up in the darkness. Eyford." Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the through." furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' outsides of the windows. with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a "No. His orders were to stay in the house." He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, your most interesting statement." such person." "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. your billet.' you?" at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' locked." be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper upon an income of about 60 pounds." Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have ran thus: beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned you?" stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more wedding?" "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you mysterious end." connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I ways including including checks, online payments and credit card it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the bears upon the case?" the station." "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to "And I say east," said my patient. "Tired-looking or fresh?" January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the helping a boy to put up the shutters. "That's no good." "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of "Entirely." have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this "This photograph!" closing the door. "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the the devil!" matters immensely." of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or "Of what day?" "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so "I will try. What is it?" clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the the loss of it. through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by "Stoke Moran?" said he. to-morrow." "Nothing?" highroad, where all traces were lost. "But what will you do?" bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of four million human beings all jostling each other within the envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which "Yes, only one." future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small a suggestive one." my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the "Here?" 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not good for you to do.' both be extremely obliged.' drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low "That also I could fathom." hair?' Surrey." address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. The note was undated, and without either signature or address. dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little "But what harm can there be in that?" indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question "That is easily got." His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height,