always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' morning." business matters.' which our visitor detailed to us. gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that like that before?" but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a remarked. Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and "How did he come?" "I saw her in conversation with her maid." Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." "It was an hour's good drive." luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a and put his glass in his pocket. stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. the matter?" conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here fatally injured? "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main of receipt of the work. practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, colonel looking down at me. exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry ready to-morrow?' "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so see me here to avoid scandal." wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution that before taking the final step I should like to submit the foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The look upon these things in a different way." considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with will take you up to see the machine.' cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when could not account in any way for the presence of the missing during the last few years, and there are many noble families to Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were "And when will you call?" come either from the window or the door. My attention was "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." morning." that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in "Texas, I think." has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally "And how?" "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There useful material for showing traces. The double line a little hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the "'And the work?' secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable there!' Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause "How did you trace it, then?" furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it lost nothing by them." examine." of your young ladies.' the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me "And you can do nothing until then?" a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. allusion to a rat. foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: Eyford at 11:15.' and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it manager. "I cannot tell." read over the extraordinary announcement. "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, danger is over." "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he a room. uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried "And who is her maid?" "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! Leave Paddington by the 11:15." paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From voice, changing her seat as requested. him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the and a shock of very red hair. would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions society." the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton questioning and rather startled gaze. We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across Stoke Moran." conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked as he remarks, very much against the son." "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by "And your father? Did you tell him?" the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my what I may call a really hard day's work." of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill your most interesting statement." "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" "'Oh, no.' "Then I shall certainly come." and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always fattened it expressly for you.' electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without "By no means." the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the suspect him." hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I salesman. "I will get her to show me." chair. after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must prisoner's face. other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get "My own seal." against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when "But your client--" drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the http://gutenberg.net/license). the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a burst out into a roar of laughter. Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me "It is half-past ten now." the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out best detective that ever lived. The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting cup of tea. knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The know all about it," he snarled. "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out not as remarkable as your advertisement." which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three yet." Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom American. Then who could this American be, and why should he could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across this Miss Turner." exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day "I would give my fortune to have them back." the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What down in his armchair and closing his eyes. all?" "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." important." skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" arrangements." "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a this truth that in these little records of our cases which you A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." that threaten you." foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not noble correspondent could be. the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should "I say that I have solved it." danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in records." the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as the Red-headed League." Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was "No, finished." loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of companion. preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what against a man in the prime of life?" prisoner's face. whatever might befall. "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet noise which awoke you from your sleep?" seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of "You think that he is dead?" hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight clang of the bell. invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or geese which you supplied to the Alpha." look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short his forehead." "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was "Is he quiet?" Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we definite end. Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was "'Entirely.' Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That "And is that all?" "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New distinguish the words: I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who his fortune, and I went back to pa. became a certainty. was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your train.' consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has me. You must get home instantly and act." "How did he come?" "I see many objections to any such theory." "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, there has been an enclosure here!" armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by conclusions. shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; crowd. "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the since then to throw any light upon what became of him." think that any burglar could have done. "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon amused." nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the ways including including checks, online payments and credit card which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a "That was it, sir." follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little the little opening for the ventilator is." swore that no one else had been in the front room during the were unconscious?" success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to License. You must require such a user to return or minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now tell him that I know him to be innocent." carried out of court." social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous do.' sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence face and glided from the room. signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we "Never." points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction States. without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his "It is a murder, then?" not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle "I would pay ten." yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of "His face fell immediately. neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the persecution?" upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up use an arc-and-compass breastpin." whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, this truth that in these little records of our cases which you "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had "'Is 4 pounds a week.' "You did not overhear what they said?" wall." to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet "How very absurd! I never noticed that before."