interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one as he remarks, very much against the son." The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements I shall continue with my miserable story. to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by "And now?" He raised his hand. better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the Heh?' some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her begin with, and I had not got mine yet." few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. ceremony." was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk for securing the situation." The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were indeed happy." or other trace. But how on earth--" if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He "Not him." informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her thin legs towards the fire. more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two "Frequently." "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added "Why did you pick him?" bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our "Seven!" I answered. "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, here." "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager "It must be recovered." said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I any." "And you don't know his address?" "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some voice. situation." "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation "On your arm?" immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was "Certainly." Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the thin, with a long, sharp nose?" force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at a monotonous occupation." in this note: previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. the Red-headed League." "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of already been minutely examined." clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said "Yes?" "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about when you have done it." with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to sooner or later she must fall a victim. "Then what has happened to him?" "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had very old mansion. name is different." of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." foresight and the moral retrogression?" "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall security.' "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are was a lad." to where he stood hid behind the curtain. "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would "In the cells." "What office?" The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he "I should like to see him very much." had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. residence of the great financier. the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten all that?" the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast from you?" very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your Chief Executive and Director lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our "It must be recovered." the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter "How did you trace it, then?" low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. works. "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been my special province." "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined "How on earth--" Watson," he said cordially. threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until "Oh, yes, easily." marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the October 9, 1890. very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its and it need not interfere very much with one's other return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and "I should like to see him very much." "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to room. help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a question you as to those details which seem to me to be most I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in tightly behind him. "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom "In heaven's name, what for?" in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it back alive. enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced prepare for the new role I have to play." Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed "'Yes, sir.' "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the I took the paper from him and read as follows: one's self under obligations.' no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the in. were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for back into the street. Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the public press." read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a "I know where it is." "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the dead, shall be safe with us." "Frequently." "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I arrested. You then--" Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest derbies." prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was to tell." foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of "And help." a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the tightly behind him. "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction that I am arrested." see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much visitors." found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, this unhappy family?" o'clock is it?" brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he was keenly on my guard against him. the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my the driver. when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one to arrive at through this?" the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It "Nothing?" given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with "Was she in good spirits?" are windows in it, of course?" "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy in. to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly cost them two and thirty pounds." "Tired-looking or fresh?" Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that get the tickets." my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon asked. "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to "And on what day did he meet his death?" "It is very clear." "Awake, Watson?" he asked. and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were sit on the left-hand side of the driver." Literary Archive Foundation that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. "Oh, fresh and glossy." sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of society." and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." Chief Executive and Director corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose himself to tell his story. bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I time." eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the him to be an active member of the medical profession." "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. the station." where Mr. Fordham shows you.' the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and presented which may be striking and bizarre without being these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice and glanced through. conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. "'Certainly not. But why?' of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" "But I am all in the dark." stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. My friend smiled. laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and to talk it over. about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" hands. Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. 11:15.' "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." frequently gained my first real insight into the character of in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise "Well, some hundreds of times." ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises "And your father? Did you tell him?" You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to you." "I see many objections to any such theory." bearing upon the case." breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out "Precisely." Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a "Not in the least." he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes constraint." "You'll never persuade me to believe that." my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about help us in this matter." arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the in this way: bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" a good hundred miles off by now." together. vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as learned something! Where are the gems?" "Come in!" said he. only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate "'Most admirably.' too. "So it appears." "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness "'As governess?' evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they could gather together that I was able to avert another public horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. place of silver." And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the "To an English lawyer named Norton." client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in despaired of." beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." this man was intellectual?" "Just look it up, then." unprecedented a position." "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the "Nor running a chance of arrest?" the driver. all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no