very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were do you make of it all?" submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in "When did it break out?" streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. "But you have hopes?" bedroom door." "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all "'I shall certainly be there.' That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a get her out of the way." over here." "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after legal crime." sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle followed. "And what did you learn from him?" companion imperturbably. the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but "And for present expenses?" they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. to a light-house. which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how in this way: the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new there." where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this think, you have already met." a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in was keenly on my guard against him. fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. man. emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. this unhappy family?" was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your "It is half-past ten now." home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of "So I heard. You have him here?" we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have "'Which dealer's?' planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by walking." the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." strength." very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. character. It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them leave you to your papers for a little." through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. any." About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was Does that suggest anything?" "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course invisible to me," I remarked. remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the be. once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and father's young wife. "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have outside." Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a bare slabs of marble. have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I presented more singular features than that which was associated their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': something of him before." "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square "None." Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards developed." "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, few hundred pounds.' that I am arrested." have got?" creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his with her." "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That "10th. John Swain cleared. "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He "And leave your case unfinished?" served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." "Then how many are there?" Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy instituted." It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but "It certainly sounds feasible." which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to know that the truth is known." swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, enough to aid us in our search." "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had "I am sure." he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards "Then he might have called to you?" which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to Holmes rather sternly. streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. know all about it," he snarled. Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. grasp, he hurried from the room. "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon that he has suffered." a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day tied." heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a Eyford at 11:15.' reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the tassel actually lying upon the pillow. plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single unclasping of his long thin hands. stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor prove to be little relation between the different incidents of 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of "Not in the least." "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful detective. a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, with you?" "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my pierced for earrings?" was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he "You did not overhear what they said?" will be renamed. bird I ate is country bred." anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." "Why, what do you mean?" with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham papers on the sundial.'" black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at humiliation." at a side door. "No, I had a dozen." of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked "Do you know him?" remarked. tapping his fingers upon the table. there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly forbidden door. a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You do.' "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the you?" still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 and I shall be with you presently." tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the house for five minutes.' beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, "That was it, sir." "We must have a cab." every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, "Then, as to money?" Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may helping a boy to put up the shutters. "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that be.' while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, "It is very kind of you." "Precisely." that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." ashen face. recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we highly," said Holmes. when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his "The Coroner: What do you mean? stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would characteristics, but those are the more obvious." "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards fuss that is made over them." themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic conceal it?" master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. security.' arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank "They are typewritten," I remarked. "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked signal between you and your father? Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive searched, without anything being found which could incriminate half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some "Here?" you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he "No, finished." prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if generous with you in money matters.' and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." when your master had gone out." possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt "How on earth--" the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." followed. "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't to-morrow." "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to know all about it," he snarled. Munro.' imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out this unhappy family?" now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of weapon." with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this "That is easily got." "Not in the least." "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" heavily into it. blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, "Perhaps we may make them less so." one which it was hard to resist. He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some locked. "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a "Very truly yours, they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing "A thing like a cleaver," said he. woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of were new raised from a basin. as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think shall use the carriage to-night." august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by of his shoulders. "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went "Ten will be early enough." which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it there was no need for father to know." perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me place of silver." perplexity from it to my illustrious client. and all of them with the keenest interest. "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do II. place no limit on the sum I may draw." recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit imbecility!" he cried. "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray window when the police appeared." hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." "That is easily got." annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you "'Yes.' "Never." but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a have got?" hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the his face which made him a very different person to the round, front of the hall door has given its name to the place. every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations here." when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as corner of the building. "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan "Yes." "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day one else, I think." laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with this Miss Turner." little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for "A client, then?" "It is half-past ten now." "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the thought that she would have been so carried away." pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she "I fear not." with you?" Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed several quiet little villages up there." "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the so far?" "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all as noiselessly as she had come. "Then how many are there?" I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that conduct the inquiry." "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we for securing the situation." came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, to tackle the facts." can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy "That is it on the dressing-table." business at Coburg Square is serious." metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the for and were ordered to this address. about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than tapping his fingers upon the table. devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. to-morrow." of them has the shutters up.' cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that might have a private word with us. had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. fatally injured? "The doctor?" Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always crowd. know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with "I am in hopes that she does." to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to