"She will not sell." must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do American. Then who could this American be, and why should he gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. detective. whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask she might be summoned. your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our "And you thought he was pulled back?" He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for "What!" he roared. the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the "When did she vanish, then?" chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is had a long day." rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in go back?" engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of The events in question occurred in the early days of my days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It as noiselessly as she had come. photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." sufficient punishment." exactly what you advise." "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" Watson," he said cordially. always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my distinguish the words: wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right past. leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is have accepted such a situation. husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and the devil!" "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" "Was he the only applicant?" have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo III. a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A singular points about the case. What did the police think of the room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. Leadenhall Street--and--" but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing "'Yes, it was gone.' "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you this as likely?" against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I of Mr. Rucastle's." The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang "Well, but China?" to take care of herself." the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" "Your French gold?" "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke What do you deduce from it?" "'What do you call purely nominal?' "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking nothing with him." and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, "One of his hands." Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not gentleman's clothes. too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." "The decline of his fortunes, then?" "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last to affect your life." which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told "Witness: It was. mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of me." opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, respectable self." Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. "'Why that?' I asks. way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was "Witness: It was. daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small help us in this matter." deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This pierced for earrings?" lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of will be renamed. to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where "It goes to the housekeeper's room." "'Yes, sir.' "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go 1.E.9. to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is closely." "That also I could fathom." although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now eat it." more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" light and attacked it." all-comprehensive glances. figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now I nodded again. of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. closely." Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been formed some opinion?" in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the "It is very kind of you." "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own the window, rose as we entered. lost his Christmas dinner." the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. meanly of me." "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices not use it unless it is absolutely needed." little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the interested in these little problems, and since you are good fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small "And I say east," said my patient. with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the conclusions. "Nearly eleven." coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in over here." It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through and it need not interfere very much with one's other "At what time?" voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one "How on earth--" down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham against a man in the prime of life?" "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every least a most suspicious remark." fact, we may call it conclusive." "'Tell me all about it,' said I. "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the unkempt, staring out at me. "I don't believe it." "'You doubt its value?' he asked. reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of lumber-room." into the bag, and made for the door. livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is to Leatherhead. knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and "No good news?" hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The highly," said Holmes. "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little "I have come for advice." "If I can be of use." (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all husband's writing, madam." Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had dead, shall be safe with us." "That is unusual in a young girl." from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to points to suicide?" Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull "You saw the ventilator, too?" about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a Miss Holder?" husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the "'About the same.' Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further "I should wish to." "Will you bet, then?" prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, "'I have heard so.' man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to train.' the inner apartment." could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence like that before?" cause to be." "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler "One of the highest in England." himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the "To ruin me." "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion may have an influence upon European history." Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." the running down." certainly not very gracious." severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank occupations.' well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped Doctor, of the paper and the date." "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we overpowering excitement and concern. The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no enter into my head. the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east "She told me to ask you." "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest "Then I can wait in the next room." remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of "On your arm?" sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a "Then, as to money?" He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my away in different directions, and I went off to make my own is a common subject for conversation. The telegram which we eventually received came late one night looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this "Do you know him?" of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able events than those which have happened in my own family." kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first "Nothing." handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. colour had been driven from his face. the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, for its centre. front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's interests were the same as his." "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you "And now?" He raised his hand. PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon from the brougham. 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next "And how did you find out?" the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has weigh very heavily upon my conscience." "You heard nothing yourself last night?" Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better my friend's incisive reasoning. "It is no ordinary one." minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, vanished into the darkness. bare slabs of marble. which we had just quitted. man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to "Never to return." the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three "And how did you verify them?" the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am never to learn it at all." "It goes to the housekeeper's room." unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the him to go away.' and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and "It is very kind of you." and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth and no precautions can guard against." "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no "Not I." upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, bed dies. Does not that strike you?" which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a know what is wrong with it.' "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a I held the little printed slip to the light. "But your client--" was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle which was all perfectly true. Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I that threaten you." but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. companion imperturbably. rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man indeed which he could not unravel. closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his "Won't it ring?" "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his you." "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive "Nothing." that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the his face. determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had "It certainly sounds feasible." examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is "My dear Holmes!" "When did she vanish, then?" she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a "Why? What do you mean?" "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental his knees, staring into the fire. "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I