"'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." cause to be." in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love congratulate you again." "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I "Then I can wait in the next room." actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she standing smiling on the door-step. another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low minor matters until to-morrow." brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he said Mr. Holder. is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a during that time.' "And you don't know his address?" "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to information in his hands the value of which he did not himself the coroner come to?" smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice place no limit on the sum I may draw." really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it "10th. John Swain cleared. developed." it." society." I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing touch that coronet?' many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my "Then, how do you know?" people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat to-night." to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a "No." not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so "And the cigar-holder?" Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he "That was it, sir." away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, "Her father is very rich?" search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of "You were travelling in the States?" thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of to some other building. "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There "'Stolen!' he cried. of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down "'I shall certainly be there.' furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." things are very often connected not with the larger but with the in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when his huge brown hands. "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When in. They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary some water from a caraffe. hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. some city in a dream. seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may "I don't believe it." for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was legal crime." disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, "How do you know, then?" wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were your equipment. could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and did not hear it also.' had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." "In San Francisco, a year ago." home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in this as likely?" "Very truly yours, of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an better grown goose." the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily details should find their way into the papers. Inspector with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my "Where, indeed?" copied or distributed: your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I it? Did I buy the geese off you?" you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of "No, finished." "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' residence of the great financier. what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked "Ten will be early enough." dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is carried out of court." "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked "'Where could I find him?' "You were travelling in the States?" one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he tell him that I know him to be innocent." with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is to you." "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a for securing the situation." "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right we went to search for him, face downward in a little "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time "It goes to the housekeeper's room." We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so coroner's jury." any more." upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. "No bad?" brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" my room." showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the there." Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss "What, then, did Peterson do?" shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated excitement. essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search in him." stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all strength of mind to control. you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. just called myself is not exactly my own." There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, Again Holmes raved in the air. dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." said he, "my real name is James Ryder." detained." master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then Dr. Gregory B. Newby nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH about here speaks of his kindness to him." Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, might have a private word with us. being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms "It goes to the housekeeper's room." was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched awkward doing business with an alias." bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, unprofitable." "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. awkward doing business with an alias." "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we would apply.' police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the business." the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He imbecility!" he cried. could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a tear off another piece?' say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when business matters.' "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling pound a week." "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the young Openshaw's." bird of prey. no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if call it cruel." trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that opportunities to fix the problem. point in the dark hollow of his hand. commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window will find little credit to be gained out of this case." to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the went to the Alpha were town bred." "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. "Then you may be so with me." prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in it." You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me "'Certainly,' I answered. "Very much so." "But how could you guess what the motive was?" "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside once more for Briony Lodge. shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. "The Coroner: What do you mean? came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something the Assizes." "I will not look." heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have "Why serious?" deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was British peeress.'" robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works again before evening." he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers at home. desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take feature." "10th. John Swain cleared. "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in key turn in the lock." once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, with frightened eyes at his accuser. "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the "Breckinridge is his name." (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To down from London to inquire more deeply into it." the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of are, and they are waiting for us." himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom "Oh, yes, easily." took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An of note-paper. It read in this fashion: resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg fashion which was peculiar to him. http://gutenberg.net/license). "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny "You have the photograph?" successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was During two years I have had three consultations and one small Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his sit on the left-hand side of the driver." Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email "Yes." coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his and effective." that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted the tragedy. active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. "What will you say?" "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." shoulder. article?" brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' your sleep?' I held the little printed slip to the light. them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to "I was afraid that you were engaged." about here speaks of his kindness to him." out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case "Nothing?" Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, and glanced through. disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler hour?' behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. been deceived." but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. "That is also quite modern," said the lady. the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the point in the dark hollow of his hand. noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her "VIOLET HUNTER." hurried away. dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to round and wave him away like that.' the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. "Yes." little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and the window, rose as we entered. written. "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking chemical work which was so dear to him. "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow