process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I fled together." or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm definite end. had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, should be so warm over such a trifle." "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. forehead. American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking easy-going way." disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess it." was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had present." "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. "So I have heard." tail." must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just "You think so, too?" "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman in one or two places in England?' 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." asked with his eyes open. twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all "Never." "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it "And that is--" my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this six. Come in!" and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. the general public were present, then?" "Because he was handy and would come cheap." "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for conduct the inquiry." freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly yourselves in at night?" with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He sound at heart." "Not I." "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission which our visitor detailed to us. introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in memory. of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen "My photograph." follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" outsides of the windows. client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping go from here to the Strand." young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, shoulder. "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to third from London." weighed down with some great anxiety. "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the this poor creature." with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in could gather together that I was able to avert another public "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, "I assure you that I am in your hands." Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. "Then, how do you know?" The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the a little more before I quite committed myself. permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a seven miles from Eyford Station.' It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." you?' ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens "You don't mind breaking the law?" down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged "In what way?" asked Holmes. of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. "It is possible." to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided "None." "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are companion. from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as maid will bring up your coffee." of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over hands. the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." someone who had been in Australia." thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled "Imitated." that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large "What then?" Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? "No, my brougham is waiting." if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a knowledge of the world." exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in Munro.' safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. "There is the writing." looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted where Mr. Fordham shows you.' "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" believe that I should never have any practice at all. set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work all that?" when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father "You heard nothing yourself last night?" act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce details should find their way into the papers. Inspector snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable nonsense.' in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are what I may call a really hard day's work." folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the suddenly upon us." sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The his fortune, and I went back to pa. "And what did you see?" laugh and put his lips to my ear. "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on Street. upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes "'And what salary do you ask?' how narrow had been my escape. my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four October 9, 1890. There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. pierced for earrings?" clanging. "And how did you verify them?" Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if "But how did you gain them?" My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all upon an income of about 60 pounds." labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is fattened it expressly for you.' in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, could go. "Nothing." interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every speckled band?" over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came handed it to him. "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, "How do you know, then?" description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, the south-west, I see." colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk someone who had been in Australia." Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" such person." there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler unkempt, staring out at me. even so self-evident a thing as that." fatally injured? "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable any." conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, the bottom.' but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, "But not more so than I to find you." circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. "Ah!" thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one business came to an end." Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was the loss of it. away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some completely overtopped every other consideration that we both yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." "Ten will be early enough." felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, since then to throw any light upon what became of him." all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had few hundred pounds.' "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At me where it went to?" compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he works. See paragraph 1.E below. accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the "Absolutely none." "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how "I don't believe it." offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the constraint." McCarthy's innocence. "He slept on the premises." which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." hour?' "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit "Yes." to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." next day. the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the point in the dark hollow of his hand. had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from long narrative. few hundred pounds.' fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you "Yes." the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, the side-table." It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called "That's no good." been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this horse could go." "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your other lovers by making love himself." a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was "'Why that?' I asks. Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine "My Mary? Impossible!" I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that pictures, libraries, or plate. breakfast?" chemical work which was so dear to him. "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated of." paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a really the only notable feature about the thing." answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much "'Why that?' I asks. status with the IRS. help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in than to us. discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is "It is a murder, then?" casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was Holmes' face clouded over. performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided "Where did he live, then?" that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the "It must be recovered." was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My "And I say east," said my patient. all?" constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I front of the hall door has given its name to the place. "I cannot tell." "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in if I call to-morrow?" "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped to me. empty. though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only hour." wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over as this. Pray let me have the details." glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose one else, I think." "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see public press." "How did that help you?" the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted Arthur Conan Doyle "'Where could I find him?' "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of "But how could you guess what the motive was?" The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the never will be, entirely cleared up. hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning on re-entering her father's house?" while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again.