I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated money should be paid at once.' afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and time." time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of was feeling which was the fattest.' forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and sparkled upon his finger. "I am armed." taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then "You don't mind breaking the law?" "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in of the efforts of the United States government and of the better of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them "Frequently." an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a "The murder was done with it." "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And "'A dozen yards or so.' "The doctor?" "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" "You horrify me." "And now?" I asked. pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' "It is his hat." Clair, of Lee." received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did "Yes." quick march!" time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. entirely lost his self-respect." he bowed and left the room without another word. imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was to a more successful conclusion." "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began "Oh, yes, easily." "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think events, Mr. Windibank!" similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle money should be paid at once.' leaning back in his chair. nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a rose-bushes. married her." 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some "No bad?" "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" "I have come for advice." we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his "One horse?" interjected Holmes. that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, Pope's Court. question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at imbecility!" he cried. cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood exactly what you advise." return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was "Yes, they were peculiar boots." our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while success. A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very emerged. the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. bore every mark of being an average commonplace British has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the "I have my revolver," said I. Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to "The doctor?" in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. to where he stood hid behind the curtain. is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in "But his lameness?" to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' a few minutes he said that it would be all right. out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three "Oh, the cause is excellent!" "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, the ceiling. you for a few hours?" note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a hour." points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; "'Yes.' "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission "That sounds a little paradoxical." firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned where we are going." Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his deduce something from that?" make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw later, upon the night of May 2nd." our word." and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight "I answered that I had not. was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to "Now, then, what's the last entry?" "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the me where it went to?" "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of a suggestive one." before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case October 9, 1890. "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some his huge brown hands. on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the his face which made him a very different person to the round, entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. vague figure huddled up in the darkness. All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called confronted him. you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! Mary, has deserted me." gbnewby@pglaf.org had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both obstinate." been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he what I may call a really hard day's work." useful material for showing traces. The double line a little "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble ill-usage at the hands of fortune. at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in flock.' galvanised. said he. "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to "'What then?' I asked. as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. simple cases which are so extremely difficult." bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; highly," said Holmes. in him." out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to "'Ample.' "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! presented more singular features than that which was associated goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more "Who was the criminal, then?" has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend business at Coburg Square is serious." "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the empty. asked. the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few hardly wander." I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." galvanised. tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that the Red-headed League." was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be "Pray do so." "And how did you find out?" "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" "Then you may be so with me." what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On woven round him. been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of touch that coronet?' "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an indeed which he could not unravel. He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had "None." third from London." evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes "Not social, then?" gone before you can get him to hospital." usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who "Yes." grasp, he hurried from the room. "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. morning." helping a boy to put up the shutters. "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done fait accompli?" "That's no good." over with notes and figures. Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or "And what did you learn from him?" it? Did I buy the geese off you?" "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of before the coroner and the police-court." "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was "Dirty?" could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four it." to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but problems help me to do so." his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and page at http://pglaf.org fasten all the windows?" day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers You want to know what became of those geese?" upon the shelf for the interim." He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by habit of advancing money.' others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly to where he stood hid behind the curtain. "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save himself. was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my noise which awoke you from your sleep?" goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge woven round him. drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask papers must be those that are destroyed.' dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such wanted for ourselves." o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest sound at heart." have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all "What shall I do?" for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of Have you good authority for what you say?" "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the seem to you to be relevant or not." my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open stammered. England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. highroad, where all traces were lost. of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid "My last client of the sort was a king." "Precisely." "You horrify me!" it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the train.' heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just your equipment. signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The "I am armed." face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached me where it went to?" "Tired-looking or fresh?" "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips fashion which was peculiar to him. cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel it." and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his once more. but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and everything which you would wish to know." swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the Again Holmes raved in the air. "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were people in all walks of life. the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the mysterious end." arrangements." future lives." days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no upon the sideboard." "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you troubles have been weighing upon his mind. compunction about shooting them down." how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" "Just look it up, then." house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton "Pray continue your narrative." claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close "Imitated." my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King hardly wander." self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." least a most suspicious remark." helping a boy to put up the shutters. Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the "That is not always so easy." and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I sofa. This way, please!" home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and at home. any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I "Never." people don't know." "Where, then?" "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." himself. was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the "What is it, then--a fire?" "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." key turn in the lock." only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away reach." "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the woven round him. The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of Farm upon the left." On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." photograph a cabinet?" Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before she slowly sank and died without having recovered her seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, his wife has ceased to love him." "Can I be of assistance?" "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But and wait." "Entirely." "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall "And for present expenses?" possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, one which it was hard to resist. sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. troubles have been weighing upon his mind. "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in "By no means." upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it me upon any point which I do not make clear." "I see many objections to any such theory." do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish papers." extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then "The murder was done with it." that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so