card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it which are rolled in Rotterdam." not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet closing the door. there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to cigar and let me expound." "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are been deceived." examination of the premises, but without finding anything which near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her important." Sutherland. again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was hour?' coroner's jury." the little opening for the ventilator is." o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past "My Mary? Impossible!" card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at your troubles." occupations.' dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' his eyes and forehead. "You forget that I know nothing about it." introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' hereditary King of Bohemia." poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." during which he might have communicated with his friend the a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a into the bag, and made for the door. been with you?" and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on It may be so in this case, also." room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the "It is very kind of you." forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only there." minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had shall use the carriage to-night." total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt that I can to serve you." "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' one of the states of the Union." stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible particular state visit http://pglaf.org "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ people in all walks of life. contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's "The gentleman I describe." "I cannot tell." "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the you in yours." and have this put in the evening papers." to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert fattened it expressly for you.' stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an affair. but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end about here speaks of his kindness to him." "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, maid will bring up your coffee." particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at vault. after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads was feeling which was the fattest.' said I. "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ "'Not at all. I only doubt--' and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down maid will bring up your coffee." "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it His smile broadened. all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something there was no need for father to know." "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." depend upon my doing so.' These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were public press." some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous tension within him. "Just look it up, then." but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" "Then the page we have seen--" been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship you give your casting vote to?" "'Ample.' description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the was used.' you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He "'Most admirably.' Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce eavesdroppers?' comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even means taking possession of that which another person has a prior and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother "Well, but China?" red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. main points of my analysis." "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his arrested. You then--" works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, sound at heart." facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. best detective that ever lived. "Texas, I think." other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. "'Where to?' upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from learned something! Where are the gems?" "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" "Witness: Nothing definite. "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white do.' uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. "You have carte blanche." extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were "Who was the criminal, then?" "Oh, the cause is excellent!" always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." question," said Holmes, smiling. "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' "'Where could I find him?' "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began when your master had gone out." "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't interest. They are important, you understand, without being that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. if only as a check to my own memory." me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind was the fact that his father should, according to his account, "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of "Nothing?" "Pray continue your narrative." "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would when your master had gone out." "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary indiscretion." earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By during the last few years, and there are many noble families to intrusion of other matters." business in the City. She little knew what. practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. carried out of court." possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this "You are certainly joking, Holmes." computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, said I. away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain new duties?' "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after "Do you receive much company?" he asked. "Yes." the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of "That you are never beaten." all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. at once, for I have only half an hour." protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." "'Tell me all about it,' said I. "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and there were so many in the whole country as were brought together had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the remarked. Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban case-book, which he consulted. "Witness: Nothing definite. get her out of the way." were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending "And what then?" And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, "I fear not." enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about Mrs. Toller serenely. had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting coat-tails." hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, "Is he quiet?" and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you all that?" eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that not use it unless it is absolutely needed." rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be the date of his supposed suicide." gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside awaited us upon the table. with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more too. and all of them with the keenest interest. had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of "But he might be a bachelor." clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, "Did you become engaged then?" "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came down from London to inquire more deeply into it." desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in you?' notes," he said. pound a week." been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant "'What are you doing there?' he asked. "From his hat?" bore every mark of being an average commonplace British planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those kind enough to tell me what I should do." her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you mysterious end." with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the should be so warm over such a trifle." would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and again, where I was soon asleep. the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are wedding?" "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in "'I shall certainly be there.' "That's no good." harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be bonnet, and went out." bird I ate is country bred." dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she "No." the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great ordinary clothes on?" "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of gone. quick march!" gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, "I see no marks." beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. bonnet, and went out." many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns "'Oh, no.' my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad she might be summoned. been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of quickly through a disagreeable task. Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that Clair, of Lee." somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" into the room. extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry "And you thought he was pulled back?" interest. They are important, you understand, without being Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. be. "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able my former friend and companion. remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old situation." friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the detective. retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with "A call for help, you thought?" than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious