"And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by "And it is--" lost his Christmas dinner." Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a "But who is he?" "I am armed." scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over 1.E.9. now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." is," said he presently: wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and keep the flames under. "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly Clair, of Lee." "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you wedding?" "That was it, sir." "So I am. Very much so." "That is also quite modern," said the lady. Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have "How many? I don't know." "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. It may be so in this case, also." go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had legal crime." the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and "About a month then." George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his "Yes." License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty "By train from Waterloo." know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried tell them apart.' "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped "Witness: It was. England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the "You think so, too?" all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a the King without delay." Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made of it with the greatest attention. remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination brain must have something in it." scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and to tell." for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all unkempt, staring out at me. I was concerned in it." were wasted." of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of question," said Holmes, smiling. The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him "Dirty?" "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main she used." was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the awkward doing business with an alias." bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is "By no means." as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert "It is possible." "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to maiden herself was most instructive." should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet "Pray do so." solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through to where he stood hid behind the curtain. here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the "Pray tell us what has happened to you." Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the chance." Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with nothing with him." went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question entirely devoid of interest." minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones "What of the rat, then?" "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." sufficient punishment." at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it good-night and bustled off upon her way. why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well were unconscious?" truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet writers could invent nothing more crude." suspect him." better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I you." showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was "Certainly." making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, and shall probably return to London by the evening train." didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. "Here?" the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards "What can it mean?" I gasped. instituted." cigars in their mouths. "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." never will be, entirely cleared up. salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you until night should bring an explanation. force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day "And what did you learn from him?" Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable have established a very serious case against the son of the "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method a suggestive one." "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask "'Certainly not. But why?' "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." "What! You do not mean bodies?" have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom "'What are you doing there?' he asked. exactly what you advise." "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss village inn over there?" Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in Pool. "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the "None. Neville wrote those words." that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by already been minutely examined." my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the where she found matters as described by the last witness. I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the simple cases which are so extremely difficult." floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your past. even so self-evident a thing as that." "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." light and attacked it." "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, three of the beryls in it, was missing. "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and of this gang." "I was afraid that you were engaged." whether it answered to the description of any of their Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to "How long did she speak to this Alice?" of it with the greatest attention. registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the entirely devoid of interest." must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" strength." can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your too. myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally advice." to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a mysterious end." to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic "How long did she speak to this Alice?" black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. promised to bring home. few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is writer." original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some yards of it?' "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would "No, I had a dozen." A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could impression behind it as though a window had gently closed of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem married her." him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow "The knees of his trousers." huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter could go. civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained any little problem which you may submit to me." known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the voice. "It was an hour's good drive." occurred." over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was "Stolen." inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that a little more before I quite committed myself. my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the gbnewby@pglaf.org pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out fat-encircled eyes. sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a you." at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your all?" "There is the writing." backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. leave you to your papers for a little." "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, lamp. four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in British peeress.'" name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms article?" quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own maiden herself was most instructive." has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. only touch the interest." have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. "Where did he live, then?" "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the of note-paper. It read in this fashion: perplexity from it to my illustrious client. you." and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've "'And the work?' platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table there was no need for father to know." he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. man. I know him from the photograph." be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged "Then, as to money?" Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body "I will do it." attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, "It is solved." outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of away to you." little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was "What steps will you take?" I asked. "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my "My dear Holmes!" everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of gone. puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down of the way of danger. In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. "Precisely." the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the nothing with him." arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned foot. manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that leaning back in his chair. your Highness to the police-station?" my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." delirious. there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in "I will do it." With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' "'A dozen yards or so.' his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the "'As governess?' be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, "I say it is." it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low she used." "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too "In heaven's name, what for?" "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." "That is also quite modern," said the lady. "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I "Then I can wait in the next room." upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but "His face fell immediately. "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what asked with his eyes open. "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his I held the little printed slip to the light. it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to "Stoke Moran?" said he. pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that brought there to personate someone, and the real person is "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean What do you deduce from it?" even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he "The vanishing of the lady." to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from