"You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been your room." be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the "'Entirely.' I. the matter." pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, Stoke Moran." very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been place no limit on the sum I may draw." He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted have got?" "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl begin with, and I had not got mine yet." two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in security.' Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded "On Monday." "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in "There is the writing." appeal." process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a "And how in the world did you find them?" It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but as he remarks, very much against the son." snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It bird of prey. am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in you found me to-night--and running through the front room she is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage "I think that it is very probable." learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an "'And the work?' was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing and have this put in the evening papers." "Whose house is it?" "I know where it is." think you a quite exceptional woman." including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I "But you have hopes?" "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you think you a quite exceptional woman." "How do you know, then?" as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it in a friendly supper." "Why serious?" "Entirely." carried out of court." he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you IS go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" noble correspondent could be. were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, green of the new foliage. are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two them, and came down just as you departed. cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will "'Ample.' Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure business at Coburg Square is serious." in one or two places in England?' of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her you in yours." Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the get her out of the way." "I am all attention, madam." easy-going way." agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, the inquest, and which are worth considering." desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door this remarkable episode. Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest "It is half-past ten now." corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that man. "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low strong and stiff." have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the at a side door. certainly do as you advise." "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to case before our client came into the room." I nodded to show that I had heard. if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely British peeress.'" "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was "None. Neville wrote those words." down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. Holmes. into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be points in connection with it which never have been, and probably of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them charged with?" "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. lids now and glanced across at his visitor. all-comprehensive glances. address. "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three "But he might be a bachelor." makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic was a lad." As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her himself to hunt down. "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. "That is unusual in a young girl." 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. "What, then?" "But not more so than I to find you." time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, comes from the middle window." for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I these bleak autumnal evenings." the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our "'Oh, no.' informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not fishes. three of the beryls in it, was missing. away into the river." "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a "Nearly eleven." tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has "Your French gold?" had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, My friend smiled. of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass some water from a caraffe. laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" begun to whiten, even as mine has." rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who "You saw the ventilator, too?" and the colonel ushered me in. serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; been anything against him. He had for years been known as a the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive a suggestive one." maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did colonel looking down at me. "Is he quiet?" typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, against a man in the prime of life?" The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it "But you were on a friendly footing?" We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a she might be summoned. but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm "There are none." "That sounds a little paradoxical." Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices the one as in the other." Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very "'Then let me do so?' "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet information in his hands the value of which he did not himself strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the empty. was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without what do you think they found in the pockets?" shag which I had seen upon the previous night. I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, direction." every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric and glanced through. their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, spare." details should find their way into the papers. Inspector started for the Temple to see my husband. places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair "A confidential servant?" unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began "Proceed, then." "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all which should have the effect of calling the attention of the we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well experiences." http://www.gutenberg.net "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. not use it unless it is absolutely needed." Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! suggested at once that there must be a communication between the "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the are, and they are waiting for us." the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds shall not find me ungrateful." bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both "Witness: I must still refuse. be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family opportunities to fix the problem. really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I note?" again." children over to America with him, so that I found myself without noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I outbreak?" already been minutely examined." must be when I saw the door open.' are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business "And now?" He raised his hand. "At half-wages, in fact." his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon hands. "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover photograph a cabinet?" on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands direction." I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, she used." like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and which are rolled in Rotterdam." "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' "They are typewritten," I remarked. planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the "Certainly." himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" "'I am sure if I had known--' the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the "Proceed, then." "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." "What have you done?" asked Holmes. the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, "Yes. He waved his hands." best detective that ever lived. he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the your own bird, so if you wish--" and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' detained." "Come in!" said Holmes. "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master roused himself from his reverie. age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her "Yes." brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug Pope's Court, Fleet Street." could not have written that. It is the German who is so "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the "'In my own bureau.' which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told never to learn it at all." his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of "Here?" engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, Pope's Court. deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it important." came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought it right.' silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough "I will not look." across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, gone. "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a is so. I know all about McCarthy." all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your entirely devoid of interest." Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. details should find their way into the papers. Inspector "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him the coronet in his hand?" we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a drove away. was keenly on my guard against him. "Not social, then?" never will be, entirely cleared up. one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but comes from the middle window." card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I plantation.' was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, "Yes." the very morning of the wedding." help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. forebodings. "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I "And what did you see?" It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's "Breckinridge is his name." But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my breakfast." coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the served to weaken the effect. it with his own hands." person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with Dr. Gregory B. Newby stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would "None." "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared his huge brown hands. be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. second." the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his "Very truly yours, provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the from you?" Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." "But we can't all be." ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond four million human beings all jostling each other within the submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at a monotonous occupation." locked. up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only