father's young wife. "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet the coronet at all injured?" "'Then let me do so?' skylight. Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It "His face fell immediately. where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly "'And the work?' "No legal papers or certificates?" beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was third from London." in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a clang of the bell. fuss that is made over them." opened the door, and slipped through. "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a "What! Had he lost his wife?" "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of "How on earth--" "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his to-night's adventure." The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high "It's nothing of the kind." London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check brought there to personate someone, and the real person is the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn strength of mind to control. sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, "Well, it is a possible supposition." wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but how narrow had been my escape. likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. been shamefully used." armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and arrangements." used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to your equipment. world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went locked." suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are the dangers which encompass me." as this. Pray let me have the details." "And did you observe any change in her then?" gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from get her out of the way." "'Entirely.' the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. "My dear Holmes!" bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two I am not easy in my mind about them." the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in "That is also quite modern," said the lady. swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. done what I asked you, Jones?" "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. papers." so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which I held the little printed slip to the light. Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, together. every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church now. It seems that there had been some informality about their Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs him to be an active member of the medical profession." part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag "And on what day did he meet his death?" either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were "Not yet." characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in that fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid sooner or later she must fall a victim. hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an spark where all is dark to me." "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have "No?" heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he people in all walks of life. the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I window when the police appeared." than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she there when the Rucastles went away." a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be cigars in their mouths. "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, into the bag, and made for the door. before, for it was considerably after midnight. ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out "And Miss Sutherland?" "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could were wasted." name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately The events in question occurred in the early days of my "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" see me here to avoid scandal." http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another woven round him. Cross for the Continent." Lestrade of Scotland Yard." understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I any little problem which you may submit to me." several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with "Bought." that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite Watson," he said cordially. play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally without success. At last the little money which I had saved began possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how geese which you supplied to the Alpha." glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive "I was afraid that you were engaged." Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet man. extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. "'I have heard so.' prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So "The best possible." her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding which we had just quitted. ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On his face. "I have come for advice." nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the strength of mind to control. possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, politicians who had been sent down from the North. spare." Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself "I was sure that I might rely on you." believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I "Holmes, the busybody!" these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a had no one to advise her at such a crisis." sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was whatever might befall. of your young ladies.' ways of our fellow-men." part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly fatally injured? nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and "I cannot as yet see any connection." power." "Who by?" forecastle of an emigrant ship. is entirely a question of barometric pressure." "Not particularly." "By no means." had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is your room." I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, is," said he presently: moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of purpose equally well?" you do it in twenty minutes!' A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our asked. "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, "The decline of his fortunes, then?" "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your "Did you become engaged then?" the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, Leadenhall Street--and--" arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," "No, but the enclosure is." building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit "Which surely he restored to their owner?" "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I threw himself down with his face to the pillow. adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I directors have had misgivings upon the subject." age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, presented more singular features than that which was associated "What?" two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our "You saw the ventilator, too?" occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt was once confined in the cab my mission was practically long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his "What then?" jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and light and attacked it." "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On to-morrow." muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I back to my heart. "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out into her hand at the door and which lured her within their speckled band?" beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the "You heard nothing yourself last night?" outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. "I came to find a friend." money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I "You saw the ventilator, too?" every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then rat could hardly pass through." spare." anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience "'Yes, sir.' been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, felt?" to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or have not had my rubber." low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or you want, then?' towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a miles off. as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, "But you can know nothing of this?" fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we present strange and interesting features that it is no easy present strange and interesting features that it is no easy the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, read it out to me." think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel certainly do as you advise." out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two residence of the great financier. and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were "Yes, certainly." until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this "You heard nothing yourself last night?" "'In my own bureau.' "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose Munro.' "Yes, they were peculiar boots." "Ample." I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose "What will you say?" the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new "And Miss Sutherland?" "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father for its centre. even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' morning." imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his "But the mystery?" learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major from you?" face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off "Was there a secret marriage?" "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked giving me time to thank him. and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to people don't know." "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, Countess of Morcar's?" "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth villagers almost as much as their master. returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or "What do you mean?" certainly do as you advise." peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your "No more words. Get out!" certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a "It certainly sounds feasible." foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring "Thank you. Pray proceed." river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the there was no need for father to know." the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to to me. which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark least a fellow-countryman. brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea