Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an "Do you know him?" "Where is it, then?" "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading these bleak autumnal evenings." d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I "Nothing." will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it key turn in the lock." hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they was a lad." she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, "It is to him that this trophy belongs." "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." used to be." certainly do as you advise." opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to "Very murderous indeed." "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a your room." for and were ordered to this address. clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in looking up at the numbers of the houses." me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' "Come in!" said he. is now desirous of getting those letters back." beg that you will break it off." Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round reach." "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with "I think it very unlikely." "'Yes, I promise.' "Yes." "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom London for the present?" rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should is a common subject for conversation. at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the hardly wander." remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently McCarthy." and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We room. end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a of the way of danger. minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" "How often?" we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under "Because he was handy and would come cheap." of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your at my own good fortune. unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite beyond words. ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has intimate personal affairs in this public manner." work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. not come at once?" telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the "'Which dealer's?' excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand http://www.gutenberg.net which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a "Yes, he did." them?" in. the child." writing, and yet I know it well." papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss "There is the writing." had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" house for five minutes.' but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was felt the room to be a little close.' but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil giving me time to thank him. "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." "No good news?" "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on words came to my lips. "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, your own bird, so if you wish--" array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young intrusion of other matters." him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both drove away. as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker DISSOLVED. do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round his knees, staring into the fire. in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me helping a boy to put up the shutters. heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. skylight. and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, letters?" and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon "The landlord of the Alpha." could not have written that. It is the German who is so All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott "Perhaps we may make them less so." ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, "Pray continue your narrative." "No." "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, obstinate." distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. throat." little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the which we had just quitted. workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank least a most suspicious remark." handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and have been better. It is all right." temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me some city in a dream. neither fascinating nor artistic." public press." Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent meant." which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself other, as fresh and trim as possible. "Perhaps I have." Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." becomes even more simple." "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your gives a meaning to it." later, upon the night of May 2nd." admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear one's self under obligations.' Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and "Yes." from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey murdered man." at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of appeared upon the scene." them?" reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but present." revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now hand, madam?" With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are garden below. yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped married her." quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with me, and I could not think that his explanation of the "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk room. manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands had died away into the silence from which it rose. "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has father's young wife. "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' "Yes." "It looks newer than the other things?" nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I "I think that I had better go, Holmes." Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they of Fenchurch Street." "Only as much as we can deduce." your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great started for the Temple to see my husband. adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation get her out of the way." the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between cigar and let me expound." in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, I took the paper from him and read as follows: more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. "It is solved." trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." standing smiling on the door-step. it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right "'Where could I find him?' Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she "Perhaps we may make them less so." trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton derbies." "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank could gather together that I was able to avert another public and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his signal between you and your father? "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' "And how did you find out?" to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the "And now?" I asked. Holmes. 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and From what you have told me I think that it is possible that Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. 'please.'" right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly "The decline of his fortunes, then?" and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished "The best possible." "You horrify me!" "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not wedding?" the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, fattened it expressly for you.' "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask has little to do with my story." years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your sound at heart." hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." over with notes and figures. season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and occurred." "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, "VIOLET HUNTER." "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, happened." "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from infinite languor in his face. which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR "You did not overhear what they said?" impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black "'No, I know no one in these parts.' for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but "But how?" office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father strength." that, and I came down." dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. "Certainly." and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of lamp. "Very. But will he see it?" he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." was not a bird to be seen there. side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring answered with a sidelong glance. "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow to-morrow." "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. three fields round his house, and there he would take his ill-usage at the hands of fortune. logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will "He slept on the premises." it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was "Very murderous indeed." "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from "That is easily got." the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which the tragedy. to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg not interfere, come what may. You understand?" call you and give you the chance." metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an "I have come for advice." "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of certainly do as you advise." glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to "Entirely." this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself the date of his supposed suicide." crowd. along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by "Nothing?" INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH morning." "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined