is so. I know all about McCarthy." The telegram which we eventually received came late one night "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back "Yes." not come at once?" the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. had a long day." unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been than to us. Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, remarked. little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was "In the cells." "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem "About a month then." sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in writer." his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable bell. Holmes whistled. having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of this truth that in these little records of our cases which you conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited "Only as much as we can deduce." push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg crowd. "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but and effective." which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary "'Not at all. I only doubt--' bell. Holmes whistled. "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the more terrible than the truth. "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander noble correspondent could be. news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." key turn in the lock." touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and way in." be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call round and wave him away like that.' "I should like to see him very much." thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, congratulate you again." astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I "By train from Waterloo." "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my "'You doubt its value?' he asked. complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I "No bad?" to a more successful conclusion." to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of "So I have heard." the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we would apply.' "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not "Did he not advertise?" sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his his wife has ceased to love him." and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and ways of our fellow-men." was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and it." me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself spare." darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said know what is wrong with it.' "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to is acting for the best. receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" you." certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an house for five minutes.' while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of "The landlord of the Alpha." better in every way that they should make their position a little "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible "His face fell immediately. man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass gone. gone. with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, ways of our fellow-men." "No, I had a dozen." the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded fact, we may call it conclusive." pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in made him keep the appointment." expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat new duties?' "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, "I see many objections to any such theory." was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible lost his Christmas dinner." fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the locked." "Dirty?" "I have hopes." "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." grasp, he hurried from the room. Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of the roots. grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though of receipt of the work. America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely wedding?" grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." colour had been driven from his face. confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little o'clock is it?" pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our joking. deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would all?" Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to his face which made him a very different person to the round, the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to returned to France?" Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" quite distinctive." written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been "A greater distance to travel." had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" whole matter to your consideration." the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge "'How far from the body?' The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my man. right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well pictures, libraries, or plate. "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms present." Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in felt?" by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for tassel actually lying upon the pillow. chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, me." "What then?" "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, address. we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, any little problem which you may submit to me." "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project "In answer to an advertisement." be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was union?" "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have good-night and bustled off upon her way. him." astonishment. his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and forehead. I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but "At the wedding breakfast." "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for me. me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of people in all walks of life. individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We the date of his supposed suicide." face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of himself to tell his story. that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I other lovers by making love himself." There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him "And leave your case unfinished?" horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to "I will, Miss Turner." anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the possible that we could bring him back to her? Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they throat." opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, "What can you not understand?" coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my locked. which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual villagers almost as much as their master. "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of only touch the interest." down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you served to weaken the effect. bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more is four-and-twenty." own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his six. Come in!" "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the fear." woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still quite distinctive." taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, fat-encircled eyes. active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which "We must sit without light. He would see it through the dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might "Then what has happened to him?" concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank morning." about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock intrusion of other matters." which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the "'Yes, sir.' presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean Stoke Moran." which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and have got?" when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. opened a pocket-book and took out a note. "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss "But how could you guess what the motive was?" had a long day." any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock prison!" refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town "We were both in the photograph." and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the he bowed and left the room without another word. coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his seven miles from Eyford Station.' those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream "Only as much as we can deduce." salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good take the flies, but not before." were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the did not hear it also.' back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say off." unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, into the room. "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, several quiet little villages up there." the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** "The murder was done with it." instincts rose up against that laugh. help us in this matter." everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said "Precisely." must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it lost his Christmas dinner." happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin helping a boy to put up the shutters. and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." the warnings." depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to "At half-wages, in fact." very morning of my second wedding." man. wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." points in connection with it which never have been, and probably "No sign of it?" his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe woven round him. time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are any more." lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon the matter?" deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, "Will you bet, then?" recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in