"I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the individual and becomes the badge of a society." "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice touch that coronet?' all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, imbecility!" he cried. to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to "I am sure." week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking "None." agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a heavy and sharp instrument." to affect your life." from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the "Pray do so." vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed hopeless attempt at recovering them." and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their been." for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his http://www.gutenberg.net and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours figure." eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to photograph?" were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave directly by questioning you." "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my tied." had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to "'About the same.' thin legs towards the fire. and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." "One of the highest in England." Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by me. You must get home instantly and act." have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at "Nothing." village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the humiliation." "You have compromised yourself seriously." man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you orange pips. were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, "She will not sell." "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the the side-table." cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he out." It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I this truth that in these little records of our cases which you to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at "That was it, sir." 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than "The murder was done with it." As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened "I think that I had better go, Holmes." His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent congenial hunt. prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking and it need not interfere very much with one's other indiscretion." he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, remarked. hereditary King of Bohemia." sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to weigh very heavily upon my conscience." had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: "Precisely." "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you "I came to find a friend." There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out fuss that is made over them." "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the appeal." events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers "Yes." His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and of this gang." "And that is--" leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and article?" "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am anything to a woman, for she would have her way." her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated was keenly on my guard against him. were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect it." Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, careless servant girl?" "What I expected to see." The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you "You did not overhear what they said?" pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up hair?' "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office opened a pocket-book and took out a note. 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant himself to hunt down. sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a or in danger--" "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present empty. information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran "'Yes, sir.' well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this "You have the photograph?" fattened it expressly for you.' "Do you know him?" which we had just quitted. I approached. "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for like gravel from a pit.' dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached colour had been driven from his face. to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to conceal it?" for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have "I am all attention, madam." together. future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing pity, because in other respects you would really have done very "Tired-looking or fresh?" and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from this man was intellectual?" ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and "None." twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in His name is Francis Prosper." same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned front of me. be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right information in his hands the value of which he did not himself whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and asked. License. You must require such a user to return or sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered "We were both in the photograph." "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. "But who is he?" noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a "But you would not advise me to refuse?" Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now "About a month then." enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from "Do you know him?" incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be past. "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, "Your French gold?" "'What then?' I asked. robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for the loss of it. and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step think, you have already met." "And sit in the dark?" miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the is a common subject for conversation. "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it I approached. as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by to affect your life." electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. "Oh, the cause is excellent!" he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything geese which you supplied to the Alpha." left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, "Just look it up, then." thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me "Ah, but I was recommended to you." roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. "I was mad--insane." carriage. It was a chestnut." "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be as this. Pray let me have the details." Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until "I cannot think." fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use "This concluded the examination of the witness." Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less "At the wedding breakfast." explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur and a shock of very red hair. 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord "Why serious?" "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of was the fact that his father should, according to his account, never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a "And how did you find out?" the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an your troubles." which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign "What! Had he lost his wife?" "When did she vanish, then?" work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. one's self under obligations.' from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By do.' will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive in the hope of finding them." Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on never will be, entirely cleared up. air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard front of me. corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both "No, thank goodness, she did not." "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and fire. You quite follow me?" the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" despair." "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and "She will not sell." used to be." goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will delighted to hear it," he said. "You horrify me!" had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would carriage. It was a chestnut." "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my both be extremely obliged.' and a shock of very red hair. river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the "'Where could I find him?' "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. Dr. Gregory B. Newby the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly me what he had done with the three missing stones. could go. "But I am all in the dark." hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. "Oh, yes, easily." want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, "Yes, the wine-cellar." "'And the work?' "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much Holmes' room. be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, bird of prey. "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under "No." dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss when you have done it." still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, "I was mad--insane." wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to visitors." say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" wife's character?" several quiet little villages up there." to his chemical studies. "Pray do so." cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that question. "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, ordinary clothes on?" him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, was once confined in the cab my mission was practically trying to your nerves." "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." before, for it was considerably after midnight. which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside "What have you to say now?" "I will do it."